British hacker faces US charges for data theft

A 25-year-old British man, known online as “IntelBroker,” has been accused by U.S. authorities of working with other hackers to steal data from many companies. The group allegedly sold the stolen information online, causing over $25 million in damages to victims worldwide. The U.S. Justice Department says Kai West, the man behind the “IntelBroker” name, targeted various organizations, including a U.S. telecommunications company, by breaking into their computer systems.

West was arrested in France in February 2025, and the U.S. is now seeking to bring him to New York to face four charges, including computer hacking and wire fraud. These charges could lead to up to 25 years in prison. According to court documents, West used a hacking forum called BreachForums to sell or share the stolen data, often for large sums of money or forum credits. He reportedly posted about 158 times, offering data from U.S. and global companies.

The Justice Department also noted that West led a hacking group and was an admin on BreachForums until he stepped down in January. French police recently arrested four other people linked to the same forum. The investigation revealed that West’s actions affected dozens of victims, including government agencies and critical infrastructure, causing significant financial and operational harm. The U.S. continues to pursue his extradition to ensure he faces trial for the widespread damage caused by his cybercrimes.