Jesse William McGraw of Arlington, Texas, a/k/a “GhostExodus,” “PhantomExodizzmo,” “Howard Daniel Bertin,” “Howard William McGraw,” and “Howard Rogers,” was arrested by FBI agents last Friday on federal felony charges related to hacking into a hospital’s computer system.
According to a statement by James T. Jacks, Acting United States Attorney for the Northern District of Texas, McGraw, 25, was employed as a security guard for United Protection Service and was working night shift the Carrell Clinic in Dallas. McGraw is alleged to be the leader of a hacker group known as “Electronik Tribulation Army,” and between April and June 2009, allegedly hacked into several of the clinic’s computers, including computers controlling the Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning system and computers containing confidential patient information.
Using the online nickname “GhostExodus,” McGraw allegedly posted pictures on the Internet of the compromised HVAC system and videos of himself compromising a computer system in a hospital.
McGraw was allegedly planning to use the compromised systems to commit additional crimes on or before July 4, 2009, a date that McGraw, according to the affidavit, called “Devil’s Day.” He posted videos on the Internet which included admonition to other hackers to assist him in conducting unauthorized computer intrusions in support of a “massive DDOS” on July 4, 2009. McGraw recently gave notice to United Protection Services that his last day of work would be July 3.
A probable cause and detention hearing is scheduled for Wednesday, July 1, before U.S. Magistrate Judge Wm. F. Sanderson, Jr.
Update July 1: The Register has more background on McGraw and the case, and Newswise has more on the researcher who assisted the FBI in identifying McGraw.