A former T-Mobile store owner was arrested for conducting a five-year hacking scheme.
On Monday, 44-year-old Argishti Khudaverdyan was arrested for stealing $25 million in a hacking scheme. The store owner would unlock cellphones on T-Mobile’s network, Sprint, AT&T, and other carriers and sell them on the black market.
According to the Justice Department, Khudaverdyan gained unauthorized access to T-Mobile’s internal computers. The owner used employees’ credentials through “various dishonest means.” Sometimes, Khudaverdyan would send emails and hack the T-Mobile IT Help Desk.
The store owner stole over 50 T-Mobile employees’ credentials from workers across the country. Authorities said Khudaverdyan used the $25 million to buy property in Burbank and Northridge.
After a four-day trial, Khudaverdyan was found guilty on multiple charges, including one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and three counts of wire fraud. Two counts of accessing a computer to defraud and obtain value. One count of intentionally accessing a computer without authorization to obtain information. One count of conspiracy to commit money laundering. Five counts of money laundering and one count of aggravated identity theft.
The 44-year-old is scheduled to be sentenced on October 17th. Khudaverdyan could receive at least two years in prison for the aggravated identity theft charge.
