A GCSE dropout could face a 52-year jail sentence after allegedly creating one of the world’s largest hacker forums, it has been reported.
Diogo Santos Coelho, of London, is battling extradition to the US amidst accusations that he stole 10billion files and £400million in a major computer hack.
The 23-year-old is alleged to have been just 15 when he quit school to form RaidForums – a ‘black hat’ site where criminals sold people’s personal information.
While the site was busted just last year, Mr Coelho is now wanted for trial in Richmond, Virginia, on charges that include fraud and identity theft.
According to The Mirror, his case has now been directed to Home Secretary Suella Braverman who will make the final call on his extradition.
Diogo Santos Coelho (pictured), of London, is battling extradition to the US amidst accusations that he stole 10billion files and £400million in a major computer hack
RaidForums was a ‘black hat’ site that enabled the selling of people’s personal information
The RaidForums site was seized on April 12 last year, with the US Department of Justice announcing its ‘unsealed criminal charges’ against the founder.
It is understood that Coelho was arrested in January last year when travelling from his previous home in Portugal to visit his sick mother in the UK.
Coelho’s lawyers argue that he had been ‘exploited by adults’ when setting up the site, adding that he was from a troubled home.
A few weeks ago, the 23-year-old also shared that he had been diagnosed with autism and an extradition would put him at risk of suicide.
He reportedly told Westminster magistrates court: ‘The most pressing concern is being in a foreign prison without support.
‘When I was speaking with psychiatrists, I was talking with them about my concerns about a long sentence.’
While awaiting the decision on his extradition, Coelho currently resides in Vauxhall, South London, while on a £30,000 bail and electronic curfew.
