Crocker will be sentenced in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania on November 23.

He was one of a number of people charged in July’s takedown of Darkode, in an operation led by the FBI and the US Attorney’s Office in Pittsburgh, working with worldwide law enforcement organisations.

Crocker, who went by the online moniker “Phastman”, pleaded guilty to one count of violating the CAN-SPAM Act, a federal law on violations of Internet communication, the US Attorney’s Office in Pittsburgh said in a statement.

Prosecutors stated Crocker used a hacking device referred to as Facebook Spreader to break into protected computer systems. They have been periodically paid between $ 200 and $ 300 for each 10,000 lively pc infections.

According to a Reddit post submitted a year ago, the virus sends a Facebook message to the affected users’ friends, with an attached malware file that runs as soon as it’s clicked. He then conspired with other Darkode members to sell access to these infiltrated computers. This way, companies would be sure their messages were able to reach the public.

After the Federal Bureau of Investigation gained access to the forum, more than 70 people in 20 countries were either searched, arrested or charged.

Last month, the Darkode online forum was finally shut down and 12 people were charged after being linked to the site. “Through this operation, we have dismantled a cyber hornets’ nest of criminal hackers which was believed by many, including the hackers themselves, to be impenetrable”.