Outrageous: A deadbeat dad has been sentenced to 81 months in federal prison for a shocking scheme involving hacking government systems to fake his own death. The man, Jesse Kipf, was indicted by a grand jury in July 2023 on charges of computer fraud, aggravated identity theft, and bank fraud. His motive? Evading child support payments by registering a fraudulent death certificate through government systems.
The US Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Kentucky prosecuted Kipf for his cybercrimes, which included manipulating death records in Hawaii’s registry system and selling access to private and governmental networks on the dark web. This devious scheme caused nearly $200,000 in damages, disrupted critical operations, and jeopardized personal information.
“Kipf’s actions were not only deceitful but also aimed at shirking his responsibilities as a parent,” stated United States Attorney Carlton S. Shier, IV. “Thanks to the diligent work of law enforcement, this case will serve as a warning to others who engage in such reprehensible behavior.”
An FBI investigation uncovered Kipf’s attempts to sell stolen data from various networks, indicating his proficiency in cybercrime. He also faced charges of aggravated identity theft for attempting to use stolen identities in bank loan applications, posing significant risks to victims and financial systems.
Following his sentencing to 81 months in federal prison, Kipf must complete at least 85 percent of his term before parole eligibility. Assistant US Attorney Kate K. Smith emphasized the importance of combatting cybercrime and protecting personal information in today’s interconnected world.
