Kyle Svara, 27, was sentenced to 76 months in federal prison after admitting he hacked Snapchat accounts to steal nude and semi‑nude photos, which he kept, sold or traded online. Prosecutors say he sent phishing texts to more than 1,500 women from May 2020 to February 2021 and accessed at least 517 accounts, downloading images from at least 59 victims. The scheme included paid hacks for former coach Steve Waithe, who was separately sentenced in 2024; investigators also found child pornography on Svara's devices.
Illinois Man Gets 76 Months For Hacking Snapchat Accounts, Stealing And Trading Nude Photos
Snapchat app is seen on a smartphone in this illustration taken, July 13, 2021. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration
July 21 (Reuters) — Kyle Svara, 27, an Illinois resident, was sentenced Tuesday to 76 months in federal prison after admitting he hacked the Snapchat accounts of hundreds of women to steal nude and semi‑nude images, which he kept, sold or traded online.
U.S. District Judge Brian Murphy in Boston imposed the 76‑month term following Svara's guilty pleas to computer fraud and aggravated identity theft, as well as making a false statement to law enforcement denying interest in child pornography. A spokesperson for U.S. Attorney Leah Foley confirmed the sentence.
Svara's lawyers said in court papers that he feels "profound remorse and shame" and that the offenses occurred during a period of isolation while he was a student at the University of Illinois amid the COVID‑19 lockdown. A lawyer for Svara did not respond to requests for further comment.
How the Scheme Worked
According to prosecutors, between May 2020 and February 2021 Svara used anonymized, internet‑based phone numbers to send phishing text messages to more than 1,500 women, posing as Snapchat's support team. Hundreds of recipients replied with security codes that allowed him to take control of accounts — prosecutors say he accessed at least 517 Snapchat accounts.
From those accounts, Svara downloaded nude or semi‑nude photos stored on at least 59 accounts. He not only retained images for himself but also advertised hacking services online and accepted payments to breach accounts.
Connection To Former Coach And Related Conviction
Prosecutors say former Northeastern University coach Steve Waithe paid Svara about $50 to hack accounts, including those of women Waithe had coached, to obtain images. Waithe was separately sentenced in 2024 to five years in prison after prosecutors said he schemed to trick young women into sending nude photos or otherwise stole such images; authorities said he victimized at least 56 women nationwide.
Evidence And Legal Outcome
Svara pleaded guilty in February to the charges and investigators also found child pornography material on his online accounts, according to prosecutors. The case underscores the risks of phishing and social‑engineering attacks that exploit account recovery and two‑factor authentication mechanisms when victims disclose security codes.
(Reporting by Nate Raymond in Boston; Editing by Chris Reese)
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