An Illinois man was sentenced in federal court in Boston on July 21 to 76 months in prison after pleading guilty to identity theft, wire fraud, computer fraud, conspiracy, and false statements related to child pornography. Kyle Svara, 27, of Oswego, Illinois, targeted over 750 women by phishing their Snapchat access codes and stealing nude photos which he kept, sold, or traded online.
According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Massachusetts, Svara collected victim emails and usernames from at least May 2020 through February 2021. He posed as a Snap Inc. representative using anonymized phone numbers and sent phishing messages requesting account security codes from more than 4,500 individuals. Approximately 570 women provided their codes; Svara then accessed the accounts of about 517 women without permission and downloaded their images. He often activated two-factor authentication to lock victims out of their accounts.
Svara advertised his services on internet forums such as Reddit with offers like “get into girls snap accounts” for others seeking content “for you or trade.” He tracked his activities using spreadsheets and notes containing personal information about victims. Investigators found that Svara’s clients included Steve Waithe—a former Northeastern University track coach—who paid him to hack accounts belonging to women Waithe knew. Waithe was previously convicted on related charges in November 2023 and sentenced in March 2024.
In addition to those hired by others for hacking attempts, Svara also targeted acquaintances including neighbors and classmates from Plainfield, Illinois; friends; family friends; as well as students at Colby College in Maine. When interviewed by investigators, Svara falsely claimed ignorance regarding Snapchat hacking or interest in child sexual abuse material (CSAM). Contrary to these claims, authorities found over 500 images and more than 600 videos depicting CSAM—including material involving children between three and four years old—in his Mega account.
United States Attorney Leah B. Foley said assistance came from both FBI offices in Boston and Chicago as well as the Oswego Police Department: “Valuable assistance was provided by the Federal Bureau of Investigation in Chicago and the Oswego Police Department.” Assistant U.S. Attorney Meghan Cleary prosecuted the case.
The U.S. Attorney for the District of Massachusetts enforces federal laws across Massachusetts through prosecutions covering national security threats and civil rights violations while advancing community initiatives on civil rights protection, according to its official website.