Jesse Kipf, a 38-year-old father from Kentucky, is facing federal charges for allegedly hacking into various state systems and private companies in order to fake his own death and avoid paying over $116,000 in child support to his ex. He is accused of impersonating a doctor and creating his own death certificate in Hawaii, as well as opening credit cards with false social security numbers after his supposed demise. In addition to hacking death registries and private business networks, Kipf is accused of selling access to these networks on the dark web.
A federal grand jury indicted Kipf on charges of computer fraud, aggravated identity theft, and making false statements on an application. He faces up to seven years in prison as part of a plea deal in which he admitted to two of the original 10 charges. If convicted at trial, he could have faced much longer behind bars. As part of the plea deal, Kipf is required to pay back the child support he owes to his ex in California, as well as another $79,400.88 to the hacking victims. The government has also confiscated computers, smartphones, and over $16,000 worth of gold and silver coins from Kipf.
Kipf’s elaborate scheme involved hacking into multiple state systems and private companies, including GuestTek Interactive Entertainment and Milestone Inc. He used the credentials of a doctor to log into the Hawaii Death Registry System and create a false death certificate for himself. By submitting this certificate, he made himself appear dead in various government databases. Prosecutors say Kipf also opened credit cards using false social security numbers after faking his death in an attempt to start a new life.
Despite his efforts to avoid paying child support and start fresh with a fake death, Kipf now faces serious legal consequences for his actions. The Justice Department advises individuals who may have been affected by the data breaches at Guest-Tek Interactive Entertainment or Milestone Inc. to contact the United States Attorney’s Office Victim Assistance Program. Kipf is expected to appear in court on April 12 to face the charges against him. If convicted, he could spend up to seven years in prison for his crimes.
In the world of cybersecurity and identity theft, cases like that of Jesse Kipf serve as stark reminders of the lengths some individuals will go to in order to avoid financial obligations. By hacking into state systems and private company networks, Kipf attempted to escape paying child support by faking his own death and opening credit cards with false information. However, his elaborate scheme ultimately led to federal charges and the potential for a lengthy prison sentence. As the case progresses, it serves as a cautionary tale about the seriousness of committing financial fraud and the legal consequences that could result from such actions.
