British ‘hacker' accused of £18m cybercrime plot by US
Kai West, under the alias IntelBroker, is accused by US authorities of leading a global hacking scheme that caused £18 million of damage to dozens of victims.
US prosecutors have said Mr West faces charges of data theft and related cybercrime offences, with a possible maximum sentence of up to 20 years if found guilty on the most serious charge of wire fraud.
He is alleged to have operated under the IntelBroker identity, hacking and stealing data from over 40 companies between 2022 and 2025, and attempting to sell the stolen records on the dark web for more than $2 million (£1.4 million)
Operating also under the name Kyle Northern, Mr West is said to have led an online hacking group. Although the Justice Department did not name the forum on which it allegedly operated, French media identified it as BreachForums, a notorious hub for data‑swapping cybercriminals.
The indictment claims Mr West led a group of 32 hackers called The Boys, and his calling card was an image of a soldier with his finger to his lips.
According to reports, Mr West allegedly opened around 158 threads on the forum, offering data for monetary sale, forum credit, or even for free.
The Justice Department stated that Mr West's alleged victims include a municipal government healthcare provider, a US‑based telecommunications company, and an internet service provider.
Although specific targets have not been formally named, IntelBroker has allegedly been linked to high‑profile breaches affecting companies including Apple, Ford, Cisco, Europol and the US Army.
In 2023, a related cyber leak at the American health insurance marketplace DC Health Link reportedly exposed the personal health information of US Congress members and their staff, including names of spouses, dependent children, social security numbers, and home addresses.
Jay Clayton, the US attorney for the Southern District of New York, where the case is being prosecuted, said: 'The IntelBroker alias has caused millions in damages to victims around the world. This action reflects the FBI's commitment to pursuing cybercriminals around the world.'
Investigators allege that they traced Mr West through his cryptocurrency accounts after an undercover agent bought data from IntelBroker for $250 in Bitcoin, enabling them to link Mr West's email addresses.
Mr West was arrested in France in February, where he remains in custody. The US is awaiting his extradition following the unsealing of the indictment this week.
'A nefarious, years-long scheme'
Christopher Raia, the FBI assistant director in charge, added: 'Kai West, an alleged serial hacker, is charged for a nefarious, years-long scheme to steal victims' data and sell it for millions in illicit funds, causing more than $25 million in damages worldwide.'
French authorities arrested four other suspects in their twenties earlier this week in connection with BreachForums.
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