Federal authorities have arrested a Texas man accused of working for the hacking group CabinCr3w, a group that once targeted Goldman Sachs CEO LLoyd Blankfein.
Higinio Ochoa, a resident of Texas, was taken into custody by FBI agents on March 20 and charged with unauthorized access to a protected computer in a criminal complaint dated March 15. The exact nature of Ochoa’s crime isn’t described, a document posted on the Web site Pastebin.com and purported to be a”confession” by Ochoa alleges that he was arrested for his involvement in a February, 2012, attack on the Texas Department of Public Safety. The post also claims that Ochoa had been working as an informant for the FBI prior to his arrest.
CabinCr3w is an Anonymous-like group that voiced support for the Occupy Wall Street movement, and carried out a variety of hacks and online protests in support of it. The group famously leaked personal information and e-mail addresses for the senior leadership of investment bank Goldman Sachs in September, 2011.
Few details of the case against Ochoa are publicly available, and the FBI declined to comment on the case.
Court documents indicate he first appeared in federal court for the Southern District of Texas on March 21. He was subsequently released on bail and forbidden to use a computer or smart phone.
However, the post on pastebin, dated March 31st, claims to be a confession posted by Ochoa. In it, he claims to have been arrested at home by eight agents from the FBI and to have worked as an informant, pointing the Bureau to other members of CabinCr3w.
“Were you ever approached to be a confidential informant? Of course I was! Some body (sp) such as myself who not only participated in the occupy movement but knew many and knew the inner workings of the ‘infamous’ cabin crew (sp) would not be just put away without wondering if he could be turned. I did how ever (sp) tell FBI (sp) that I would participate in the capture of my fellow crew mates,” the statement reads.
It hasn’t been confirmed that the statement attributed to Ochoa was, in fact, posted by him or by someone claiming to be him. A post on the Twitter account associated with CabinCr3w points to the Pastebin document in a post, dated Tuesday, that reads “Higochoa (AKA w0rmer) to snitch on the #CabinCr3w.”
According to the conditions of his bail, Ochoa was required to refrain from using computers, smart phones or the Internet. In addition, the Twitter account attributed to him, @Anonw0rmer, has been inactive since March 20, raising the possibility that the “confession” is merely an effort to discredit Ochoa. The statement does provide details of his arrest and detainment by the FBI and Texas authorities, including the name of the FBI agent who signed the complaint against him. However, that information could have been gleaned from court documents.
In other respects, the “confession” is rambling, with “Ochoa” claiming to have acted to protect those close to him, to sow confusion within the FBI and rid the world of “apathy and a willingness to protect oneself over others.”
The arrest is just the latest to hit high-profile hacking groups. Notably: in March Federal law enforcement agents arrested Hextor Xavier Monsegur, a 28 year old New York City resident better known as “Sabu,” a top member of Lulz Security. Monsegur, it turns out, had been cooperating with the authorities.
he’s not a snitch. he has just played to confuse the feds.
he writed 2 texts and his girlfriend loaded the links on twitter.
The canbincrew acount was used yesterday by someone who is suspected to be a snitch or an idiot
The other members of cabincrew wasn’t associated with this tweet.
activepolitic.com:82/News/2012-04-04c/Criminal_Charges_Filed_Against_Anonymous_Member_in_Texas.html
Funny each time when someone get arrested he is “informant” haha rly funny
Assuming the pastebin letter is actually from him I see nothing there that even suggests he’s a snitch. I’m actually quite baffled by how much more he has put himself at risk with that letter as it could be used against him if it actually came from him. Makes little sense unless he’s skipped town.
This just proves how important Anonymous is. Without them, we lose our freedom.
#FreeW0rmer
I say fry him along with Hector (sabu), Topiary and all the other useless crackheads. Cybercrime doesn’t pay kiddies. Get the message, heed the warnings!
Some people can not read! The letter no way claims he was an informant. For those of you, who think otherwise, please learn how to read! The FEDs simply want people to think that, it’s in their best interest. Also, it’s a well known media trick to only post partial statements. Read the letter completely and you will see. FYI, there is a second letter outlining his arrest and treatment by Law Enforcement officials (good and bad). The second letter is not mentioned, how convenient.
In the second letter he talks about how the FEDS purposely didn’t give him his medicine. Medication that is needed to prevent violent seizures and possible death! Isn’t that a crime? Maybe someone who actually cares about human rights should look into that!
To the person who said fry him, Why you Mad Bro?! Get your crayons and get back to your coloring books.
Look at the WHOLE story from both sides and than pass judgment! Don’t pass judgment or make stupid comments based on half truths.
well even if off a bit, still generated some great discussion
Haha, arrest all of these hypocrites please!
he is my brother and i can assure you…he is NOT a snitch. this article is garbage since they didnt even put the enitre paragraph as which he says “to confuse the agents” or something of that matter. he neverver said anything. cabincrew means more to him then u think. my brothers letter was all true. and he wrote it on paper and *someone* typed it fo him. i was there.
^^Obvious troll is obvious ^Asshat!
snitch gave up his creds, everything past that is blablabla details from someone trying to rationalize away that they quite likely got played by the same cops he smacked off arrogantly to, getting worked as he thought he was ‘playing them’.
Lets be serious, your ‘brother’ is facing 1 count. That’s lol house arrest. Your snitch relative decided to give up his creds, his friends didnt have a change to know what was up and that it was cops accessing the accounts suddenly.
He didn’t care, he walked in their with the same script kid arrogance that got him caught for a bottom tier hack and thought he was going to play them, probably gave up more data than he realizes– because lets be serious, he doesn’t understand he’s not particularly bright, inclusive of his account creds which honestly is probably worth more anyways, I’m sure you’ve talked to him..
*Then* when he got played he came out crying to the same people a few nights before he tried to betray with the worlds worst emo egotistical ‘still doesnt get it’ dear abby letter, and he’s so arrogant he ends it with his *public defender* as a PR contact. I’m sure they’ll get right on that..
The only thing he’s really got going for him is the charges he faces really aren’t that serious and he almost certainly won’t do any time.
In other words ‘cool story breh’