Two hackers from the group 'Crackas With Attitude' are arrested after 'targeting the CIA boss and other senior officials'

  • Federal prosecutors said Andrew Otto Boggs, 22, known as 'INCURSIO,' and Justin Gray Liverman, 24, known as 'D3F4ULT,' were part of the group
  • Tricked people into giving information to get access to their accounts
  • The pair - who lived at home with their parents - used the hacked accounts to send harassing messages to their victims
  • Allegedly included CIA Director John Brennan, who appears to be 'Victim 1'

By Associated Press

Published: 14:57 EST, 8 September 2016 | Updated: 06:34 EST, 9 September 2016

Two hackers from a group called 'Crackas With Attitude' have been charged after allegedly targeting CIA Director John Brennan and other senior government officials.

Federal prosecutors said Andrew Otto Boggs, 22, known online as 'INCURSIO,' and Justin Gray Liverman, 24, known as 'D3F4ULT,' were part of the hacking group.

The pair - who lived at home with their parents - will make initial court appearances next week. 

The FBI said they had tricked people in to giving information which enabled them to gain access to the victims' accounts, a technique known as 'social engineering'. 

Two hackers from the group 'Crackas With Attitude' have been charged after allegedly targeting CIA Director John Brennan (pictured)

Two hackers from the group 'Crackas With Attitude' have been charged after allegedly targeting CIA Director John Brennan (pictured)

Beginning in October, the hackers gained access to personal online accounts of the senior US government officials.  

Earlier this year, British authorities arrested a 16-year-old boy who they said used the name 'Cracka' to target Brennan and others. 

Indeed, the affidavit said three British teens, ranging in age from 15 to 17, were members of the conspiracy.

The affidavit cited email exchanges in which Boggs told another individual, 'I want to carry on [Cracka's] legacy if or when he is arrested. I know he'll receive a harsh sentence because our government doesn't like being embarrassed.'

According to the affidavit, Boggs and Liverman lived in their parents' homes. 

They used the hacked accounts to send harassing messages to their victims.

While Brennan is not named in the affidavit, he appears to be 'Victim 1.' 

The affidavit said Victim 1's emails were released by WikiLeaks on October 21, 2015, which corresponds with a WikiLeaks disclosure relating to Brennan.

The leaked emails included a memo addressed to President Obama in 2009 which advised him to tone down rhetoric against Iran.

In one exchange, Boggs told 'Cracka' he wanted to hack Victim 1's agency because 'I've been looking for evidence of aliens,' according to the affidavit.

While Brennan (pictured) is not named in the affidavit, he appears to be 'Victim 1'

While Brennan (pictured) is not named in the affidavit, he appears to be 'Victim 1'

When the hackers gained control of an account, they used access to promote the Free Palestine Movement, according to the affidavit. 

In another case, they pretended to be Edward Snowden when they contacted their victim.

News accounts indicated Crackas hackers targeted Director of National Intelligence James Clapper and had his phones forwarded to the Free Palestine Movement. 

The affidavit included online conversations among the hackers discussing such a plan, but the victim was not identified.

In all, the affidavit referred to five victims -four who were government officials or family members, and one who was a corporate CEO.

Authorities also accused the hackers of calling in a false bomb threat to the Palm Beach County Sheriff's office in Florida earlier this year. 

The hackers were also accused of publishing the names and emails of thousands of employees at the FBI and Department of Homeland Security and about 80 Miami-area law enforcement officers.

A CIA spokesman declined to comment.

In October, when WikiLeaks published the hacked emails, the CIA issued a statement describing the Brennan family as victims. 

'This attack is something that could happen to anyone and should be condemned, not promoted,' the agency said. 

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