Data theft in 2021 from Texas Republicans has Ontario man facing cybercrime charges [Video]

An Oshawa man is facing cybercrime charges in connection with the theft of data from the Texas Republican Party in 2021.

The Department of Justice announced the unsealing of charges against Aubrey Cottle, 37, after police in Canada arrested him on Wednesday.

A criminal complaint filed in the Western District of Texas alleges Cottle gained unauthorized access to a third-party hosting company’s computer system to deface and download a backup of the Texas Republican Party’s web server, which contained personal identifying information.

The information, police said, was distributed and made available for download online, with Cottle allegedly claiming responsibility for the attack on social media. A search of his electronic devices revealed he was in possession of the data stolen from the Texas Republican Party.

Cottle has been charged with unlawfully transferring, possessing, or using a means of identification with the intent to commit, or aid or abet, or in …