POLICE on two continents swooped on top members of computer hacking group LulzSec early today, and acting largely on evidence gathered by the organisation's leader - who sources say has been secretly working for the government for months - arrested three and charged two more with conspiracy.
Charges against four of the five were based on a conspiracy case filed in New York federal court.
An indictment charging the suspects, who include two men from Great Britain, two from Ireland and an American from Chicago, is expected to be unsealed today in the Southern District of New York.
"This is devastating to the organisation," an FBI official involved with the investigation said. "We're chopping off the head of LulzSec."
The offshoot of the loose network of hackers, Anonymous, believed to have caused billions of dollars in damage to governments and corporations, was allegedly led by a shadowy figure FoxNews.com has identified as Hector Xavier Monsegur, 28.
Working under the alias "Sabu", the unemployed father of two allegedly commanded a loosely-organised, international team of thousands of hackers from his nerve centre in a public housing project on New York's Lower East Side.
After the FBI unmasked Monsegur last June, he became a cooperating witness, sources said.
Monsegur pleaded guilty on August 15 to 12 hacking-related charges and information documenting his admissions is expected to be unsealed in court today.
As a result of Monsegur's cooperation, which was confirmed by numerous senior officials, the remaining top-ranking members of LulzSec were arrested or hit with additional charges today.
The five charged in the LulzSec conspiracy indictment were identified by sources as: Ryan Ackroyd, aka "Kayla" and Jake Davis, aka "Topiary," both of London; Darren Martyn, aka "pwnsauce" and Donncha O'Cearrbhail, aka "palladium," both of Ireland; and Jeremy Hammond aka "Anarchaos," of Chicago.
Hammond was arrested on access device fraud and hacking charges and is believed to have been the main person behind the devastating December hack on US security company Stratfor.
Sources added that Hammond will be charged in a separate indictment, and they described him as a member of Anonymous.
The others are all suspected members of LulzSec, the group that has wreaked havoc on US and foreign government agencies, including the CIA and FBI, numerous defense contractors, financial entities and corporations including FOX and Sony.
A spokeswoman for the Southern District and US Attorney Preet Bharara declined comment.
Monsegur's attorney did not return requests for comment.
Read more at FOX News
Charges against four of the five were based on a conspiracy case filed in New York federal court.
An indictment charging the suspects, who include two men from Great Britain, two from Ireland and an American from Chicago, is expected to be unsealed today in the Southern District of New York.
"This is devastating to the organisation," an FBI official involved with the investigation said. "We're chopping off the head of LulzSec."
The offshoot of the loose network of hackers, Anonymous, believed to have caused billions of dollars in damage to governments and corporations, was allegedly led by a shadowy figure FoxNews.com has identified as Hector Xavier Monsegur, 28.
Working under the alias "Sabu", the unemployed father of two allegedly commanded a loosely-organised, international team of thousands of hackers from his nerve centre in a public housing project on New York's Lower East Side.
After the FBI unmasked Monsegur last June, he became a cooperating witness, sources said.
Monsegur pleaded guilty on August 15 to 12 hacking-related charges and information documenting his admissions is expected to be unsealed in court today.
As a result of Monsegur's cooperation, which was confirmed by numerous senior officials, the remaining top-ranking members of LulzSec were arrested or hit with additional charges today.
The five charged in the LulzSec conspiracy indictment were identified by sources as: Ryan Ackroyd, aka "Kayla" and Jake Davis, aka "Topiary," both of London; Darren Martyn, aka "pwnsauce" and Donncha O'Cearrbhail, aka "palladium," both of Ireland; and Jeremy Hammond aka "Anarchaos," of Chicago.
Hammond was arrested on access device fraud and hacking charges and is believed to have been the main person behind the devastating December hack on US security company Stratfor.
Sources added that Hammond will be charged in a separate indictment, and they described him as a member of Anonymous.
The others are all suspected members of LulzSec, the group that has wreaked havoc on US and foreign government agencies, including the CIA and FBI, numerous defense contractors, financial entities and corporations including FOX and Sony.
A spokeswoman for the Southern District and US Attorney Preet Bharara declined comment.
Monsegur's attorney did not return requests for comment.
Read more at FOX News
