This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2016, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
A 28-year-old Saratoga Springs man, accused of hacking the United Airlines website, has been charged with second-degree felony counts of computer crime, theft, communications fraud and pattern of unlawful activity.
Third District Court documents show that in addition to the charges filed Tuesday, a $50,000 arrest warrant was issued for Ammon Cunningham, also known as Jacob Colvin. He was scheduled for a first appearance Friday before Judge Ann Boyden in Salt Lake City.
A probable cause statement alleges that between July and September of 2012, Cunningham unlawfully accessed the website, obtained personal identification numbers for 120 of the airline's "electronic travel certificates" belonging to United Airlines customers.
"He either used the ETCs for personal travel, or he sold them through various classified ad sites, including Craigslist and KSL.com ... for below market value," prosecutors alleged.
Total losses for the airline due to the stolen ETCs exceeded $58,000, the Utah Attorney General's Office complaint states.
Furthermore, prosecutors allege, Cunningham emailed the airline at the end of his alleged hacking and theft spree offering to reveal a security gap in the website — in return for $10,000, and first-class airfare for his family to an unspecified location.
Cunningham's initial court appearance was set for Friday.
Twitter: @remims