Ex-Army Soldier Pleads Guilty To AT&T Cloud Hack, Massive Call Data Breach, And $500K Extortion Threat Targeting High-Level Government Officials

Cyberattacks exploiting system vulnerabilities and extracting sensitive information have become increasingly common in the United States, especially among telecommunication providers. Two major carriers, AT&T and Verizon, have fallen victim to these attacks, resulting in compromised data and shaken users' trust.

The Mastermind Behind the Attacks

Cameron John Wagenius, a 21-year-old ex-soldier, is the cybercriminal behind this exploitation. Wagenius carried out the cyberattacks "kiberphant0m" and "cyb3rph4nt0m" over the years, breaching AT&T and Verizon's internal systems between April 2023 and December 2024.

As revealed by the Department of Justice (DOJ), some of the extortion attempts were conducted while Wagenius was actively serving in the military. In December 2024, he was arrested near a military base in Texas after bragging online about getting hold of President Trump's call records, which drew federal attention leading up to his arrest.

The Charges Against Wagenius

Wagenius pleaded guilty to multiple charges against him, including wire fraud, extortion attempts, and identity theft. As a result, he will be facing up to 27 years in prison, with the sentence set to begin on October 6th.

The Scope of the Breach

According to the authorities, the stolen data included sensitive information such as phone and text records obtained by breaching Snowflake's cloud environment. AT&T also confirmed that nearly all of its customers had their compromised data exposed.

This case serves as a reminder for telecommunication providers to build stronger infrastructures that are not easy to infiltrate, in order to prevent more widespread damage and protect users' sensitive information.

A Major Win in the Fight Against Cybercrime

Allison Nixon, Chief Research Officer, emphasized how this marks a major win in terms of the fight against cybercrime. She called the federal arrest the fastest one observed, praising the cooperation between cybersecurity workers, federal law enforcement, and prosecutors.

"This is one of the most significant wins in the fight against cybercrime," Nixon said. "The cybersecurity workers helping the victims through a storm, federal law enforcement with the fastest federal arrest I have ever witnessed, and the prosecutors now destroying them in court – all brought their A game and they deserve to celebrate tonight."

Consequences and Lessons Learned

The case highlights the importance of robust cybersecurity measures and regular system updates. It also serves as a warning to individuals who engage in cybercrime, as they will face severe consequences.

"This case is a reminder that cybercrime will not be tolerated, and those who engage in it will be held accountable," said Nixon. "We must continue to work together to protect our citizens' sensitive information and prevent further breaches."