By Raphael Satter, Christopher Bing and Joel Schectman
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – An Israeli private detective detained in New York since 2019 on charges of involvement in a hacker-for-hire scheme wants a plea deal, according to a letter filed in court by his lawyer.
The unusual case has revealed the impacts of a secretive but thriving cyberespionage industry in India.
Federal prosecutors say the jailed detective, Aviram Azari, organized a series of hacking missions through unnamed third parties against American companies based in New York, using fake websites and phishing messages to steal email account passwords.
While the indictment does not identify the hackers by name, five people familiar with the case say that Azari is being charged in relation to New Delhi-based BellTroX InfoTech Services https://www.reuters.com/article/us-india-cyber-mercenaries-exclusive/exclusive-obscure-indian-cyber-firm-spied-on-politicians-investors-worldwide-idUSKBN23G1GQ, which Reuters last year reported was behind a hacking campaign that targeted lawyers, government officials, businessmen, investors and activists around the world.
Azari is charged with conspiracy to commit hacking, wire fraud, and aggravated identity theft, court documents show.
Azari’s lawyer Barry Zone wrote to U.S. District Judge John Koeltl of Manhattan on June 11 that his client is now “in a position to engage in meaningful plea discussions and negotiations with the government.”
The letter asks for a delay to a case conference scheduled for Aug. 9 “to engage in what we hope will be fruitful plea discussions.”
Zone declined further comment. The U.S. Attorney’s office in Manhattan declined comment.
Emails and phone calls to BellTroX chief executive Sumit Gupta and other employees have gone unanswered since last year.
Reuters previously reported that BellTroX was contracted by Western private detectives working at the behest of law firms and wealthy people, citing former operatives.
BellTroX is one of several India-based firms that provides hacking services to a global clientele, the operatives said.
The U.S. government’s investigation is looking at whether Americans hired contractors, including BellTroX, to spy on U.S. environmental activists, according to three people briefed on the investigation who spoke on condition of anonymity.
(Reporting by Raphael Satter; Additional reporting by Christopher Bing and Joel Schectman; editing by Grant McCool)
