UK national charged in $115 million cyber extortion scheme targeting U.S. entities
NEWARK, NJ – A criminal complaint unsealed in the District of New Jersey charges Thalha Jubair, a 19-year-old United Kingdom national, with conspiracy to commit computer fraud, wire fraud, and money laundering. The charges stem from a cyber extortion campaign linked to at least 120 network intrusions, including attacks on U.S. critical infrastructure and the federal court system.
According to the complaint, Jubair—also known online as “EarthtoStar,” “Brad,” “Austin,” and “@autistic”—acted as a key member of a cybercriminal group known by various aliases, including “Scattered Spider,” “Octo Tempest,” and “0ktapus.” Between May 2022 and September 2025, Jubair and his co-conspirators allegedly used social engineering tactics to gain unauthorized access to computer networks, encrypt sto...