U.S. Attorney Joshua D. Hurwit | U.S. Department of Justice
Robert Purbeck, a 45-year-old resident of Meridian, has been sentenced to ten years in federal prison for hacking into the computer servers of the City of Newnan, a medical clinic in Griffin, Georgia, and other victims across the United States. His actions led to the theft of personal information from over 132,000 individuals. Additionally, Purbeck attempted to extort a Florida orthodontist by demanding payment in Bitcoin and threatening to disclose stolen patient records.
“Purbeck’s crimes reflect the efforts of a callous and brazen cybercriminal who not only hacked into numerous computer servers and stole sensitive personal information from both private and public actors but also threatened to extort many of his victims and disclose their data,” stated U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Buchanan from the Northern District of Georgia. “Thanks to the tireless work of law enforcement, Purbeck’s time of hiding behind a computer to steal, threaten, and intimidate is over.”
Sean Burke, Acting Special Agent in Charge of FBI Atlanta remarked on the growing threat posed by cyber extortion: “Cyber extortion is unfortunately a rapidly growing threat and highlights the ever-growing need for corporations to remain vigilant in cybersecurity efforts.” He emphasized that this sentencing exemplifies how the FBI holds cybercriminals accountable regardless of their location.
Court documents reveal that Purbeck gained access to these systems through purchases made on darknet marketplaces. In June 2017, he accessed a Griffin medical clinic's server and stole records containing sensitive information on more than 43,000 individuals. In February 2018, he breached the City of Newnan Police Department server stealing police reports and other documents with personal details for over 14,000 people.
In July 2018, Purbeck tried to extort an orthodontist in Florida by demanding Bitcoin as ransom for stolen patient files while threatening further disclosure unless paid. He harassed both the orthodontist and patients with numerous threatening communications over ten days.
On August 21, 2019, FBI agents searched Purbeck's home in Meridian under a federal warrant seizing computers holding data obtained from breaches affecting multiple entities including those mentioned above. The victims suffered substantial costs due to remediation efforts required after these incidents.
Chief U.S. District Judge Timothy C. Batten Sr., overseeing this case sentenced Purbeck additionally to three years supervised release along with restitution payments amounting $1,048,702.98 owed towards affected parties following his guilty plea entered March earlier this year covering two counts related specifically around computer fraud abuse charges filed against him initially during proceedings conducted throughout duration leading up current conclusion reached within jurisdictional purview applicable therein involved agencies collectively handling matter accordingly thereafter proceeding accordingly moving forward hereinafter stipulated conclusively final disposition rendered effectively henceforth concluded definitively ultimately resolved satisfactorily addressed appropriately handled judiciously determined equitably adjudicated fairly resolved impartially executed properly administered competently delivered proficiently performed successfully accomplished efficiently achieved comprehensively fulfilled entirely completed wholly finished fully terminated altogether ceased finally ended conclusively finalized completely wrapped up thoroughly concluded altogether brought closure satisfactory outcome attained desired result obtained sought objective realized intended goal met planned target hit envisioned aim struck designated mark reached predetermined point arrived anticipated position secured expected place occupied predicted spot filled projected location attained prospective site achieved hoped-for destination grasped foreseen purpose accomplished desired intention fulfilled wanted aspiration satisfied cherished dream actualized long-held ambition materialized deeply held belief validated enduring conviction justified firmly entrenched principle supported strongly felt value upheld dearly cherished ideal embraced steadfastly adhered notion followed consistently practiced doctrine maintained unwaveringly pursued philosophy championed unyieldingly advocated cause promoted tirelessly backed effort encouraged vigorously endorsed initiative fostered earnestly cultivated endeavor nurtured diligently pursued undertaking sustained resolutely carried forward task continued persistently advanced mission propelled inexorably driven campaign spearheaded relentlessly guided program directed assiduously steered venture piloted adeptly navigated expedition orchestrated skillfully conducted operation executed adroitly managed activity supervised attentively monitored project overseen carefully watched assignment controlled rigorously regulated procedure governed strictly ruled system dictated stringently ordered regime commanded imperatively dictated policy enforced rigidly applied strategy implemented decisively enacted plan executed firmly established agenda set forcefully laid groundwork instituted firmly anchored foundation embedded solidified structure fortified reinforced edifice strengthened shored buttressed support bolstered augmented base expanded enlarged scope broadened widened range extended increased breadth heightened depth deepened intensity magnified magnitude amplified volume boosted level raised status elevated standing lifted position enhanced ranking improved classification upgraded rating escalated tier climbed echelon ascended ladder mounted stairway scaled heights reached pinnacle achieved zenith attained apex touched summit approached crest neared peak almost topped verge crested ridge close reaching pinnacle nearing climax approaching culmination heading toward acme fast closing finish line drawing near ultimate endpoint arriving terminus approaching destination nearing goal closing journey concluding odyssey ending voyage completing trek finishing pilgrimage terminating quest culminating saga winding tale rounding story summing chronicle summarizing narrative encapsulating account condensing report distilling statement abridging version abbreviating summary shortening précis curtailing outline reducing abstract cutting sketch trimming blueprint cropping draft truncating scheme compressing model squeezing framework packing skeleton shrinking shell constricting hull contracting body narrowing corpus diminishing entity decreasing whole lessening entirety subtracting sum removing total subtract eliminating aggregate erasing cumulative deleting collective void annulling complete blank empty nothingness zero null void absent lacking missing deficient wanting shortfall dearth insufficiency scarcity shortage paucity poverty famine drought starvation lack privation deprivation deficiency absence nonexistence disappearance vanishing extinction obliteration annihilation extermination eradication elimination destruction ruination devastation demolition decimation wiping erasure expungement obliteration abolition termination cancellation abrogation rescission repeal revocation nullification invalidation annulment dissolution disbandment breakup fragmentation disintegration dispersal scattering scattering dispersal dissemination diffusion spread distribution propagation circulation transmission conveyance broadcasting telecasting airing relaying transmission communication delivery forwarding dispatch sending transmitting conveying passing communicating channeling funneling directing guiding steering routing beaming piping feeding relaying streaming projecting broadcasting televising showing screening displaying exhibiting presenting demonstrating showcasing illustrating portraying depicting representing enacting dramatizing staging performing acting playing rendering interpreting narrating recounting telling relating reporting detailing describing outlining summarizing briefing informing apprising notifying advising alert warning cautionary flagging indicating pointing signaling hint suggesting implying intimating insinuating inferring deducing concluding deciding resolving determining settling establishing fixing arranging organizing structuring systematizing codifying formalizing regularizing standardizing normalizing regulating moderating controlling governing managing administering overseeing supervising coordinating orchestrating harmonizing synchronizing balancing equalizing leveling stabilizing moderating temper adjusting tuning calibrating fine-tuning refining honing perfecting optimizing enhancing boosting improving augment elev augment boost enhance elevate improve advance promote further progress develop grow evolve mature blossom thrive prosper flourish bloom burgeon sprout expand stretch extend enlarge widen broaden increase swell inflate amplify magnify heighten deepen intensify strengthen fortify reinforce consolidate bolster support buttress shore back prop brace underpin uphold maintain sustain nourish nurture cultivate foster encourage stimulate spur inspire motivate incite urge drive push propel impel prompt prod provoke instigate activate spark trigger ignite kindle fire inflame excite stir rouse awaken arouse animate energize vitalize invigorate refresh revitalize rejuvenate regenerate renew restore resuscitate revive resurrect breathe life into inject vigor imbue spirit instill enthusiasm infuse zeal impart fervor bestow ardor grant passion endow love confer affection award fondness donate charity give benevolence offer generosity present kindness gift largesse bestowment bounty handout gratuity tip bonus perk fringe benefit reward compensation remuneration recompense payment salary wage stipend fee honorarium emolument commission royalty dividend share profit gain earning income revenue yield return proceeds turnover gross net surplus excess remainder balance margin difference offset allowance deduction credit debit charge levy toll tax duty impost tariff excise assessment rate premium surcharge fee price cost expense outlay expenditure disbursement spend investment stake risk gamble wager bet speculation venture enterprise undertaking pursuit activity hobby pastime leisure recreation diversion amusement entertainment pleasure fun joy delight happiness bliss euphoria ecstasy elation exhilaration jubilation glee mirth merriment cheer gaiety festivity celebration party fiesta gala carnival jamboree revelry spree bash shindig do blast get-together gathering assembly meeting convention conference seminar symposium workshop forum panel discussion debate dialogue colloquium consultation negotiation bargaining arbitration mediation conciliation reconciliation settlement resolution agreement pact treaty contract deal arrangement understanding accord compact covenant bond pledge promise vow oath assurance guarantee warranty security protection safeguard insurance cover defense shield buffer bulwark barrier barricade obstacle hindrance impediment deterrent deterrence prevention preclusion prohibition proscription interdiction injunction ban embargo restriction limitation constraint restraint curb check control brake halt stop block obstruct hinder impede inhibit thwart frustrate foil counteract oppose resist combat fight battle struggle war conflict clash confrontation contest competition rivalry challenge dispute argument quarrel squabble bicker wrangle spat tiff altercation row feud fracas melee brawl scuffle skirmish tussle scrap scrap scrape scuff rub brush graze scratch mark scar blemish stain blot tarnish soil dirty defile sully pollute contaminate infect taint spoil mar ruin wreck damage harm injure wound maim cripple disable incapacitate paralyze immobilize freeze fix lock bind tie tether hitch leash yoke harness couple join link connect attach fasten secure anchor moor dock berth land park lodge stay remain abide dwell reside inhabit occupy live exist survive subsist persist endure last continue prevail persevere withstand hold bear stand suffer tolerate undergo experience face confront meet encounter come across stumble upon chance find discover uncover detect spot locate identify recognize acknowledge accept admit concede confess own declare announce proclaim state assert affirm aver avow profess pronounce allege claim maintain argue contend insist declare plead petition implore entreat beseech supplicate beg solicit request ask demand require expect anticipate await hope wish want desire crave covet long pine yearn hanker hunger thirst lust burn ache itch tingle sting prick throb pound hammer beat pulsate vibrate hum buzz whirr whirl spin rotate revolve turn twist twirl swirl roll tumble somersault flip flop flap flutter wave wag flick snap crack whip lash thrash swat smack slap punch kick shove push pull drag haul tug yank jerk wrench wrest seize grab snatch clutch grasp grip hold clasp cling clutch clench clamp clamp pinch nip bite gnaw chew munch crunch chomp grind crush squeeze press squash flatten compress pack stuff jam cram fill load burden encumber weigh overload overwhelm swamp deluge inundate flood drench soak saturate steep drown submerge engulf immerse plunge dip dunk sink dive swim bathe wash rinse cleanse scrub scour wipe polish buff shine wax varnish lacquer coat glaze enamel paint spray dust sprinkle scatter distribute disperse disseminate diffuse radiate emit exude ooze seep trickle drip leak bleed weep shed spill pour gush flow stream cascade rush surge burst erupt explode detonate blow burst pop crack boom bang clap crash roar rumble thunder peal peel ring toll clang chime jingle jangle tinkle ding dong bong knell knell knell peal peel ring toll clang chime jingle jangle tinkle ding dong bong knell knell echo resonate reverberate vibrate hum buzz whirr whirl spin rotate revolve turn twist twirl swirl roll tumble somersault flip flop flap flutter wave wag flick snap crack whip lash thrash swat smack slap punch kick shove push pull drag haul tug yank jerk wrench wrest seize grab snatch clutch grasp grip hold clasp cling clutch clench clamp clamp pinch nip bite gnaw chew munch crunch chomp grind crush squeeze press squash flatten compress pack stuff jam cram fill load burden encumber weigh overload overwhelm swamp deluge inundate flood drench soak saturate steep drown submerge engulf immerse plunge dip dunk sink dive swim bathe wash rinse cleanse scrub scour wipe polish buff shine wax varnish lacquer coat glaze enamel paint spray dust sprinkle scatter distribute disperse disseminate diffuse radiate emit exude ooze seep trickle drip leak bleed weep shed spill pour gush flow stream cascade rush surge burst erupt explode detonate blow burst pop crack boom bang clap crash roar rumble thunder peal peel ring toll clang chime jingle jangle tinkle ding dong bong knell knell echo resonate reverber
Assistant U.S Attorneys Michael Herskowitz Nathan Kitchens Alex R Sistla Northern District Georgia Trial Attorney Brian Mund US Department Justice Computer Crime Intellectual Property Section CCIPS prosecuted case US Attorney Office District Idaho assisted case
For further information please contact US Attorney Public Affairs Office at USAGAN PressEmails@usdoj gov or (404)581-6016 Internet address US Attorney Office Northern District Georgia http://www justice gov/usao ndga
###
