Galveston Man Pleads Guilty to Computer Hacking Charge

Higinio O. Ochoa, III, age 30, of Galveston, Texas, faces up to five years in federal prison after pleading guilty this afternoon to accessing a protected computer without authorization, announced United States Attorney Robert Pitman, Federal Bureau of Investigation Special Agent in Charge Armando Fernandez, and Texas Department of Public Safety Director Steven C. McCraw.

Appearing before United States Magistrate Judge Mark Lane in Austin, Texas, Ochoa admitted that in February 2012, he hacked into computers belonging to the Texas Department of Public Safety; Alabama Department of Public Safety; Houston County, Alabama; and the West Virginia Chiefs of Police Association. Ochoa unlawfully downloaded personal and confidential information, deleted data, and engaged in website defacement. Ochoa, who claimed he was associated with hacker groups known as “Anonymous” and “CabinCr3w,” also admitted to making stolen information available to others and boasting about his criminal activities.

Ochoa is out on bond pending sentencing. No sentencing date has been scheduled.

This investigation was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Texas Department of Public Safety, and Alabama Department of Public Safety. Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew Devlin is prosecuting this case on behalf of the Government.