Forest Hills Hacker Used Federal Database For Blackmail: Prosecutors

FOREST HILLS, QUEENS — A Forest Hills man stands accused of blackmailing people with private information hacked from a federal database, prosecutors announced Tuesday.

Nicholas Ceraolo, 25, and Sagar Steven Singh, 19, both face federal charges over an extortion scheme with the group "ViLE" that hinged on threats to post private information online, said U.S. Attorney Breon Peace.

“Singh and Ceraolo aptly belonged to a group called, as their crime was, ‘Vile.’ That conduct ends today,” said Peace.

“As alleged, the defendants shamed, intimidated and extorted others online."

The pair used a police officer's stolen password to hack into the restricted database — which included state and local law enforcement information — in early 2022, prosecutors said.

Ceraolo impersonated a Bangladeshi police official to convince a U.S.-based social media platform to hand over information about a user he claimed was involved in child extortion and blackmail, Peace said.

Singh threatened to harm another person's family if he wasn't sent his victim's social security number, driver’s license number, and other information, prosecutors said.

Ceraolo remains at large, while Singh was arrested Tuesday in his Rhode Island home in Pawtucket, prosecutors said.

Ceraolo faces up to 20 years in prison if convicted charges that include wire fraud and conspiracy to commit computer intrusions, Peace said.