The so-called co-founder Online Hacker Movement Anonymously has been detained after a data breach against the Texas Republican Party in 2021.
Aubrey Cottle, a 37-year-old Canadian nationalprofessionally known as “Kirtaner”.
The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) accused Cottle of entering the Texas Republican web server and stealing sensitive data in 2021.
The Justice Department said Cottel was arrested in Canada on Wednesday and authorities are filing additional charges under Canadian law.
In TexasCottle faces “illegal transfer, possession or use of an identification method, intent, assistance or assistance, or in connection with illegal activities under state or federal law,” according to the release.
Texas State Capitol Building in Austin, Texas. (Tamir Kalifa/Getty image)
Cottle used his LinkedIn profile to describe himself as a “dirty black but good Boi.” The same page shows Cottle as one of anonymous founders, a decentralized hacker group designed to violate government agencies in protest.
“Yes, that one,” Cottel wrote. “Hal Turner, Scientific, Guy Fawkes Mask, you know. Really. Google.”
Cottle obtained an unauthorized third-party hosting company called “Epik” before tearing down the Texas Republican website, according to a press release represented by Margaret Leachman, an agent in Western Texas.
“Texas: Drawing voice from women to promote the theocratic erosion of church/state barriers,” anonymous rewrite of the site’s landing page. The website’s banner is replaced by cartoon characters, erotic images and music videos.
Hacker Group Anonymously Announces “Total War” against Donald Trump
The same version says Cottle stole backups of the website server containing personally identifiable information. The stolen data is then published online for public download. Prosecutors added that Cottle even boasted about the violations on social media.
“The anonymous founder hacker guy you might see in the news, Vice or Sumthn,” Cottle’s Tiktok Page’s resume said.
The Justice Department SEALs were at a press conference held at the Washington Department of Justice’s Office on May 16, 2023. (AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana)
According to the Justice Department, leaked data from the Republican Party in Texas were found in searches for Cottle’s personal electronic devices.
Anonymous group allegedly violated the website Selective revenge. In September 2021, Lone Star State passed the Texas Heartbeat Act. Under the bill, miscarriage is illegal, exceeding the point of the fetal heartbeat, about five to six weeks of gestational age.
After the platform hosted a fundraising campaign for Canadian Freedom Fleet, Cottel also violated Chiveendgo with the Christian crowdfunding site’s “political barriers” data. For donor names to remain private and secure on the platform and advertised throughout the internet.
Trucks were parked in Ottawa for 19 days of protests by the Freedom Convoy. (Fox News Digital/Lisa Bennatan)
During the violation, Givesendgo founder Jacob Wells spoke with Fox News’ numbers.
“It’s illegal and these people should be jailed,” Wells said. “FBI – I mean, surprisingly, we didn’t hear anything from any of the investigation services. We’re going to contact ourselves and just see some investigation into it. It’s totally unacceptable.”
Givesendgo launched a crowdfunding campaign for Luigi Mangione, a campaign accused of killing United Healthcare CEO Brian Thompson in December 2024.
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The FBI Austin Cyber Task Force is investigating Cottel’s case, and U.S. assistant attorney G. Karthik Srinivasan is prosecuting the case. If convicted, Cottel faces up to five years in prison.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office in the Western District of Texas did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Fox News numbers.
Danielle Wallace of Fox News Digital contributed to the report.
