Former U.S. Army soldier gets 70 months in prison for hacking and extorting at least 10 US tech and telecom companies

Former U.S. Army soldier Cameron John Wagenius was sentenced to 70 months in prison for hacking and extorting at least 10 U.S. technology and telecommunications companies between April 2023 and December 2024. BleepingComputer identifies Wagenius as 21 and says he used the online handles kiberphant0m and cyb3rph4nt0m. BleepingComputer also reports that he pleaded guilty in February 2025 to hacking AT&T and Verizon, then in July 2025 to additional counts including aggravated identity theft, conspiracy to commit wire fraud and extortion related to computer fraud. The Justice Department said the conspirators threatened to post stolen data on BreachForums and XSS.is and attempted to extort at least $1 million. The Register reports Wagenius carried out the campaign while on active duty and was stationed in South Korea and Texas.