Plea Reached in File-Sharing ID Theft

By: The Associated Press
November 06, 2007
Article

SEATTLE - A man charged with using online file-sharing programs such as LimeWire to commit identity theft pleaded guilty Monday in federal court.

Gregory Kopiloff, 35, pleaded guilty to mail fraud, accessing a protected computer without authorization to further fraud and aggravated identity theft.

He acknowledged using file-sharing programs to invade the computers of victims nationwide to get access to their personal information in tax returns, credit reports, bank statements and student financial aid applications. He then used that information to open credit lines and shop online.

Kopiloff admitted using the personal information of more than 50 people to fraudulently buy and resell more than $73,000 in merchandise.

Although people have been prosecuted for using networks to illegally share copyrighted music, movies and software, the Justice Department has called Kopiloff's prosecution its first case against someone accused of using file-sharing to commit identity theft.

Kopiloff also obtained personal information by more old-fashioned methods, such as stealing mail or taking records from trash cans, the U.S. attorney's office said.

Sentencing was scheduled for January. Mail fraud is punishable by as many as 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.