Jesse Kipf, 38, is anticipated to plead guilty to federal hacking and identity theft charges after allegedly orchestrating a scheme involving faking his own death to evade paying over $116,000 in child support to his ex-partner in California.

Fabricating His Demise

Kipf, a resident of Somerset, Kentucky, purportedly engaged in a series of elaborate maneuvers to simulate his demise. According to federal court documents, he hacked into state systems in Hawaii, Arizona, and Vermont, along with breaching networks of GuestTek Interactive Entertainment and Milestone Inc., both private companies. These actions aimed to create a facade of his death across government databases.

Elaborate Scheme Unraveled

In January 2023, burdened with a substantial six-figure debt to his ex-partner in California, Kipf allegedly assumed the identity of a doctor to gain access to the Hawaii Death Registry System. Through this access, he purportedly generated a case file and submitted a falsified death certificate, effectively portraying himself as deceased. Subsequently, he reportedly extended his illegal activities to hacking other death registries and selling access to private business networks on the dark web.

Legal Ramifications and Plea Deal

A federal grand jury indicted Kipf in November on charges of computer fraud, aggravated identity theft, and falsifying statements on an application. Facing a potential lengthy prison sentence, Kipf opted for a plea deal, admitting guilt to two of the original ten charges. This agreement could result in a maximum seven-year prison term.

Restitution and Confiscation

In addition to reimbursing his ex-partner in California for the outstanding child support, Kipf is expected to compensate hacking victims with $79,400.88 as part of the plea deal. Furthermore, authorities confiscated numerous computers, smartphones, and assets, including over $16,000 worth of gold and silver coins.

Call for Vigilance

The Justice Department urges individuals who stayed at hotels using Guest-Tek services before February 12, 2023, or engaged with Milestone before June 21, 2023, to report any potential harm resulting from data breaches to the United States Attorney’s Office Victim Assistance Program at 859-685-4906.

For further details, refer to the original article from NEWS.ORG News Digital.

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