A Buffalo Police detective has been hit with a superseding federal indictment for allegedly attempting to purchase stolen credentials from an illicit online marketplace known as Genesis Market. The indictment was announced by U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo, who confirmed that 35-year-old Terrance Michael Ciszek, also known by the alias “DrMonster,” faces multiple serious charges.
Ciszek is now formally charged with affecting transactions using access devices issued to other individuals, as well as aggravated identity theft. If convicted, he could face up to 15 years in federal prison and a fine of $250,000.
FBI Tracks Genesis Market and Digital Fraud
The charges stem from a broader investigation led by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), under the direction of Acting Special Agent-in-Charge Mark Grimm. According to Assistant U.S. Attorney Charles Kruly, who is prosecuting the case, the FBI began investigating Genesis Market in August 2018. The illicit online marketplace specialized in trafficking stolen digital data harvested from malware-infected devices worldwide.
“Genesis Market offered buyers packages of sensitive data, including login credentials, computer identifiers, email addresses, and passwords,” Kruly stated. These packages were sold using virtual currencies such as Bitcoin, making transactions harder to trace.
Also read: Operation Cookie Monster: FBI Seizes Cybercrime Marketplace Genesis Market
Ciszek Allegedly Bought and Used Stolen Credentials
Between March and August 2020, Ciszek was accused of purchasing 11 stolen data bundles from Genesis Market, which reportedly included 194 stolen account credentials. In March and April 2020, prosecutors allege, he attempted to use stolen credit cards to make purchases. He was also allegedly found in possession of another person’s full identification, including their credit card, on April 15, 2020.
This level of misconduct is especially troubling given Ciszek’s role as a detective with the Buffalo Police, raising questions about internal oversight and trust within law enforcement ranks.
False Statements and Ongoing Legal Proceedings
Further complicating his legal situation, Ciszek allegedly made false statements to FBI investigators on April 4, 2023. He denied purchasing stolen data from the internet and attempted to shift blame onto a family member, claiming his nephew may have been responsible for the transactions.
Ciszek had previously been indicted for possession of unauthorized access devices with intent to defraud and for making a false statement to a federal agency. The latest superseding indictment broadens the case, adding more serious charges.
While these developments reflect the federal government’s ongoing efforts to clamp down on illicit online marketplaces like Genesis Market, authorities remind the public that all individuals charged with crimes are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
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