A 24-year-old man has pleaded guilty to illegally accessing the electronic filing system of the Supreme Court of the United States and stealing sensitive personal data, according to court filings released this week.
The accused, Nicholas Moore, also admitted to breaching computer networks linked to AmeriCorps and the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, investigators said. Stolen data from the compromised systems was later published publicly on Instagram.
Authorities said Moore used stolen login credentials belonging to authorised users to gain unauthorised access to protected government systems. Once inside, he extracted personal and health-related information and shared it online.
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Supreme Court filing records accessed
Court documents state that Moore accessed the Supreme Court’s electronic filing system and posted identifying information of a court user, referred to as “GS” in filings. The leaked material included the individual’s name along with current and historical electronic filing records.
The breach has triggered concerns over cybersecurity protections safeguarding sensitive judicial data and the digital infrastructure of the country’s highest court.
AmeriCorps systems breached
Investigators said Moore gained access to AmeriCorps’ internal servers and published detailed personal data of another victim, identified as “SM”. The compromised information included:
- Full name and date of birth
- Email address, residential address, and phone number
- Citizenship and veteran status
- Service history
- Last four digits of the Social Security number
Moore claimed he had obtained server-level access to AmeriCorps’ systems, according to the filings.
Veterans Affairs health data exposed
In a separate incident, Moore accessed the Veterans Affairs’ MyHealtheVet portal belonging to a third victim, identified as “HW”. Screenshots posted online showed details of prescription medications, exposing identifiable medical information.
Officials said the disclosure constituted a serious violation of federal healthcare data protection and privacy safeguards.
Instagram used to publish stolen data
Authorities said Moore used the Instagram account Instagram handle “@ihackthegovernment” to post stolen data and claim responsibility for breaching U.S. government systems. Investigators said the account was used to publicly display and promote unauthorised access to federal networks.
Possible penalty
According to the U.S. Department of Justice, Moore faces a maximum sentence of one year in prison and a fine of up to $100,000, equivalent to approximately ₹83 lakh. Sentencing will be decided by the court at a later date.
Cybersecurity concerns flagged
The breaches have raised broader concerns about cybersecurity vulnerabilities across key U.S. government systems handling legal, civic, and healthcare data. Officials said internal security protocols are under review, and audits of affected systems have been accelerated to prevent similar incidents.
Investigators said further technical assessments are ongoing to determine whether additional data or systems were compromised.
About the author – Ayesha Aayat is a law student and contributor covering cybercrime, online frauds, and digital safety concerns. Her writing aims to raise awareness about evolving cyber threats and legal responses.
