Texas Man Sentenced to 57 Months for Computer Hacking and Aggravated Identity Theft

ALBANY, NEW YORK –Tyler C. King, age 31, of Dallas, Texas, was sentenced today to 57 months in prison for computer fraud and aggravated identity theft in connection with his hacking of a New York-based technology company. 

The announcement was made by United States Attorney Grant C. Jaquith and Thomas F. Relford, Special Agent in Charge of the Albany Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).

United States Attorney Grant C. Jaquith stated: “Tyler King hacked into a major technology company, damaged its systems, stole its data, and laughed about it, all from the comfort of his sofa in Texas.  He will now serve 57 months in federal prison.  Those interested in hiding behind their keyboards to steal information and damage property should take today’s sentence as a stark reminder that computer hacking is a serious business with serious consequences.  I thank the FBI for its exceptional work in bringing King to justice.”

FBI Special Agent in Charge Thomas F. Relford stated: “This kind of behavior is not a prank, and it isn’t harmless. Today’s sentence should serve as a reminder that cybercrime is a serious threat and the FBI is prepared to go to any lengths to apprehend criminals like Mr. King.”

Senior United States District Judge Thomas J. McAvoy ordered King to serve a 2-year term of supervised release, to begin after King is released from prison, and to pay a fine of $15,000 and $21,159 in restitution.

The evidence at King’s 5-day trial, in November 2019, established that he conspired with Ashley St. Andria in 2015 to gain access to the computer network of a New York-based technology company that employed St. Andria.  While on the company’s network, King and St. Andria created unauthorized administrator accounts that gave them access to proprietary company information, including real-time access to the emails of senior company executives, personnel files, and financial records. 

In response to the company shutting down the fake administrator accounts, King regained access to the network with the assistance of St. Andria, stole proprietary business records, and – through a series of sophisticated steps, including the use of password-cracking programs – bypassed the company’s security measures.  In doing so, King illegally used the credentials of two company employees based overseas.  The jury convicted King of conspiring to commit computer fraud, computer fraud, and two counts of aggravated identity theft. 

In June 2020, King pled guilty to obstructing justice by falsifying evidence for use at his November 2019 trial.

King’s co-conspirator, Ashley St. Andria, age 31, of Irving, Texas, pled guilty to computer fraud on August 15, 2018 and was sentenced by Judge McAvoy to time served, and 2 years of supervised release, in March 2020.

This case was investigated by the FBI, and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Wayne A. Myers and Joshua R. Rosenthal.