The U.S. Department of Justice announced the arrest of former cybersecurity consultant Vincent Cannady, who allegedly extorted $1.5 million from a New York-based multinational IT infrastructure services provider where he was assigned by a staffing company to address possible network security issues, reports BleepingComputer.
Such IT firm had its trade secrets, architectural maps, and other confidential and proprietary information downloaded by Cannady using a company-issued laptop after he was fired due to performance-related issues, with the defendant then demanding the firm to pay $1.5 million for employment discrimination, according to the Justice Department.
Higher demands were then sought by Cannady, who later removed the staffing firm’s access to his laptop while attempting to disclose the stolen information through regulatory filings and the media. Cannady, who also coursed his demands to the staffing firm, could be imprisoned for up to 20 years should he be found guilty of extortion charges.