Suspect in Jewish center bomb threats made millions in bitcoin on darknet

The case has developed significantly with the discovery of Jewish center bomb threat suspect’s Bitcoin account. 

Israel’s Rishon Lezion Magistrates’ Court Thursday remanded a 19-year-old Israeli-American hacker from Ashkelon to police custody for an additional 12 days. It marked the suspect’s third remand since his March 23 arrest as part of an FBI investigation into allegations he phoned in bomb threats to Jewish institutions—primarily JCCs—in the US, Australia and New Zealand earlier this year.

The case has developed significantly as investigators analyzing the suspect’s computer for evidence discovered he traded millions of dollars in bitcoin digital currency on the darknet.

Police believe the suspect used the darknet to sell drugs, forged passports, drivers’ licenses, and other identity papers. Authorities are investigating the parties who paid for his services.

In a previous hearing, the teen’s attorney argued his actions were influenced by autism and an inoperable brain tumor.

Police seek to charge the suspect with a series of criminal offenses, including malicious intent to cause harm, sabotage, extortion and intimidation, money laundering, illegal possession of weapons, receiving illicit benefits under aggravated circumstances, falsifying computer records, hacking, inciting public panic, and unlawful impersonation for the purpose of committing fraud.

Police say the suspect’s motives are unclear. His arrest followed an Israeli investigation with the FBI and other international law enforcement agencies.

The bomb threats amplified fears of US anti-Semitism.

In an interview aired Monday, the teenager’s father issued an apology “from the bottom of our hearts” to all American Jews and stressed “there was no hatred” behind the threatening calls.

By: JNS.org and World Israel News Staff

JCC