Jeffrey Brett Goodin, 46, of Azusa, California, was arrested today by FBI agents after having been a escapee for the past four months, declared J. Stephen Tidwell, Assistant Director in Charge of the FBI’s Los Angeles Field Office.
Goodin, who was well-known as “The Hacker,” was initially arrested in January 2006 on accuses that he operated an identity theft scheme known as “phishing.” During the scheme, Goodin supposedly sent thousands of fraudulent e-mails which appeared to be from America Online’s Billing Department to AOL subscribers, looking for their personal credit and debit card account information. The stolen data was later used by Goodin to make unauthorized purchases.
Goodin was released on acquaintance after being accused for the scheme and consequently failed to show up for a scheduled bail revocation hearing. A federal arrest warrant was issued for Goodin on July 24, 2006, in Los Angeles, and his photograph was posted on the FBI’s website at http://www.fbi.gov/wanted/fugitives/cyber/goodin_jb.htm . A federal grand jury added new charges against Goodin in a superseding indictment handed down on July 27, 2006, for crimes Goodin allegedly committed while a fugitive, including witness harassment.
FBI Agents in Los Angeles identified the location at which Goodin was residing and placed him under arrest today. Goodin was afforded an initial appearance before a federal magistrate in U.S. District Court in Los Angeles this afternoon and was detained. He was ordered to appear for an arraignment on Monday, November 8th, 2006.
This case was initiated in July 2005, when officers with the Ontario Police Department (OPD) advised that Goodin had been involved in the fraudulent use of credit card information obtained through e-mail messages. The OPD contacted the FBI who investigated the matter jointly with the Electronic Crimes Task Force.
The Electronic Crimes Task Force is comprised of the FBI, United States Secret Service, the Los Angeles Police Department, Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department, California Highway Patrol, the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office and the United States Attorney’s Office in Los Angeles. This case will be prosecuted by the United States Attorney’s Office in Los Angeles.
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