Cybersecurity Breach: Man Sentenced for Faking Death to Evade Child Support
Cybersecurity Incident Overview
A Kentucky man was sentenced to over 6 years in prison after he executed a cybersecurity breach by hacking into the death registry to avoid paying child support.
Details of the Case
Jesse Kipf accessed the Hawaii death registry system in January 2023 using stolen credentials from a physician to create a false case of his own death. He generated a death certificate worksheet and fraudulently certified his death utilizing the doctor’s digital signature. Kipf remained registered as deceased in various government databases as a result of his actions.
Broader Implications of Cybercrime
- Stole identities to access multiple death registries and private business networks.
- Attempted to sell access to these networks on the dark web.
- Sentenced to 81 months in prison, serving 85% under federal law.
- Supervised for three years post-release.
U.S. Attorney Carlton S. Shier, IV emphasized the destructive nature of Kipf's scheme, highlighting the vital importance of computer and online security in protecting societal functions.
This article was prepared using information from open sources in accordance with the principles of Ethical Policy. The editorial team is not responsible for absolute accuracy, as it relies on data from the sources referenced.