Hacker faces 81-month prison sentence for faking his death to avoid child support payments

Facepalm: A federal court has sentenced a deadbeat dad to 81 months in prison for hacking government systems to fake his death. A grand jury indicted the man in July 2023 on multiple charges of computer fraud, aggravated identity theft, and bank fraud. He admitted to accessing government systems and registering a fraudulent death certificate to avoid paying his back child support.

The US Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Kentucky prosecuted Somerset resident Jesse Kipf for cybercrimes targeting private and governmental networks. It began when he manipulated death records in Hawaii’s death registry system, falsely listing himself as deceased using a forged digital signature to evade paying child support. He also sold access to these networks on the dark web. The US Attorney said Kipf’s crimes resulted in nearly $200,000 in damages, disrupted critical operations, and compromised personal information.

“This scheme was a cynical and destructive effort, based in part on the inexcusable goal of avoiding his child support obligations,” said United States Attorney Carlton S. Shier, IV. “Fortunately, through the excellent work of our law enforcement partners, this case will serve as a warning to other cyber criminals, and he will face the consequences of his disgraceful conduct.”

An FBI investigation revealed that Kipf accessed and attempted to sell data from networks that included a private company and a state government registry. Kipf planned to use the stolen data, which included personal identification information, for further identity theft and fraud. His scheme’s magnitude and sophistication indicated he has significant technical skills.

Authorities also charged Kipf with aggravated identity theft, which carries severe penalties because of the far-reaching consequences for victims. The indictment additionally alleged that Kipf attempted to use the stolen identities to fill out several bank loan applications. According to a US Attorney’s Office press release, his actions posed significant risks to individual victims and the integrity of financial and governmental networks.

“Working in collaboration with our law enforcement partners, this defendant who hacked a variety of computer systems and maliciously stole the identity of others for his own personal gain, will now pay the price,” said FBI Special Agent in Charge Michael E. Stansbury for the Louisville Field Office. “Victims of identity theft face lifelong impact and for that reason, the FBI will pursue anyone foolish enough to engage in this cowardly behavior.”

The court sentenced Kipf to 81 months in federal prison, adding that he must complete at least 85 percent of his time before becoming eligible for release. Following his incarceration, Kipf faces three years of closely supervised parole. His consequences could have been much higher had he not copped a plea.

Assistant US Attorney Kate K. Smith reiterated her office’s commitment to pursuing justice in cybercrime and identity theft cases, highlighting the importance of safeguarding digital and personal information in an increasingly interconnected world.