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November 16, 2024
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Idaho Hacker Robert Purbeck Sentenced to 10 Years for Cyber Extortion and Ordered Restitution
BOISE, Idaho – Robert Purbeck, a 45-year-old Meridian resident, has been sentenced to 10 years in federal prison for his extensive cybercrimes involving hacking into the servers of nearly two dozen entities across the United States, including a Griffin, Georgia, medical clinic and the City of Newnan Police Department, stealing the information of over 132,000 individuals.
In June 2017, Purbeck purchased access to the Griffin Medical Clinic's computer server through a darknet marketplace, using stolen credentials to illegally access the clinic's computers and extract sensitive personal information (PII) of over 43,000 individuals, including names, addresses, birthdates, and social security numbers. In February 2018, a similar breach occurred with the City of Newnan Police Department, resulting in the theft of police reports and other documents containing PII from over 14,000 people.
Purbeck's activities escalated into a pattern of extortion, most notably targeting a Florida orthodontist in July 2018. He demanded a Bitcoin ransom payment in return for the stolen patient files, threatened to sell the personal information of the orthodontist's minor child, and harassed the orthodontist and his patients for ten days with numerous threatening emails and text messages.
The FBI executed a federal search warrant at Purbeck's home on August 21, 2019, seizing multiple computers and electronic devices containing the personal data of over 132,000 individuals from various breaches. Purbeck's plea deal, which was agreed upon in March 2024, included a recommendation for a 70-month sentence, three years of supervised release, and restitution amounting to over $1 million.
Purbeck pleaded guilty to two counts of computer fraud and abuse, despite his attempts to suppress evidence, exclude statements, and recover seized devices. Chief U.S. District Judge Timothy C. Batten Sr. sentenced him to ten years in federal prison, three years of supervised release, and ordered him to pay $1,048,702.98 in restitution to his victims.
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Anthony Denis
Anthony Denis a Security News Reporter with a Bachelor's in Business Computer Application. Drawing from a decade of digital media marketing experience and two years of freelance writing, he brings technical expertise to cybersecurity journalism. His background in IT, content creation, and social media management enables him to deliver complex security topics with clarity and insight.
