From Remote Coder to Accused Cyber Thief: The Case of Ken-ichi Hatakama
In a modern-day digital heist, a Philippine national stands accused of masterminding a sophisticated wire fraud scheme that allegedly siphoned over half a million dollars from a U.S. company. United States Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe in Orlando announced Friday the indictment of Ken-ichi Larroza Hatakama, 36, on charges of wire fraud, a crime that could land him in federal prison for up to 20 years.
The indictment also signals the U.S. government’s intent to seize a staggering $562,569.37, identified as the ill-gotten gains from the alleged illicit operation.
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According to court documents, Hatakama, a citizen and national of the Philippines, was working remotely for a victim company (referred to as “VC”) providing computer coding assistance. But instead of solely legitimate work, prosecutors allege Hatakama was embedding malicious code into VC’s systems.
This hidden programming, prosecutors claim, cunningly rerouted payments intended for VC’s partners into dozens of fraudulent PayPal accounts under Hatakama’s control.
The intricate scheme allegedly allowed Hatakama to steal more than $500,000 from the unsuspecting company.
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