Eric Council Jr., 26, Sentenced to 14 Months in Prison for His Role in Hacking the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission's (SEC) Official X Account

Eric Council Jr., 26, of Athens, Alabama, has been sentenced to 14 months in federal prison for his involvement in a cybercrime conspiracy. The case involved the hacking of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission's (SEC) official X (formerly Twitter) account.

A U.S. judge on Monday sentenced Eric Council Jr., 26, to 14 months in federal prison for his role in a cybercrime conspiracy that involved hacking the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission’s (SEC) official X (formerly Twitter) account.

The case came to light after a false post appeared on the SEC’s X account in January 2024, falsely announcing the approval of Bitcoin Exchange Traded Funds (ETFs).

The post, which was quickly deleted, caused a brief surge in Bitcoin’s price by over $1,000. However, the SEC confirmed that the post was not legitimate and had been published without authorization.

Council Jr., from Athens, Alabama, pleaded guilty in February 2025 to conspiracy to commit aggravated identity theft.

U.S. District Judge Amy Berman Jackson imposed the 14-month sentence, ordered the forfeiture of $50,000, and imposed three years of supervised release.

During the supervision period, Council Jr. is prohibited from accessing the dark web or engaging in any activity involving identity fraud.

According to federal authorities, Council Jr conspired with others to gain access to the US SEC’s X account by carrying out a SIM swap.

The new device was returned for a refund after the code was shared. That code enabled unauthorized access to the SEC account, which was used to publish the false announcement.

Officials said Council used his own portable ID card printer to create the fake identification card used in the store. He later admitted that he was paid around $50,000 to perform the SIM swap.

In June 2024, FBI agents searched Council Jr’s apartment in Athens, Alabama. They recovered a fake ID, a laptop, and the ID card printer.

A forensic review of the laptop revealed templates for additional IDs and a history of internet searches related to the SEC hack, Telegram SIM swaps, and how to detect FBI investigations.

The search history included phrases such as “SECGOV hack,” “how can I know for sure if I am being investigated by the FBI,” and “how long does it take to delete Telegram account.” Agents also found a list of Verizon stores and references to federal identity theft laws.

Council Jr was arrested on October 17, 2024. He later accepted a plea deal, admitting to the conspiracy. Prosecutors had recommended a two-year sentence.

“Schemes of this nature threaten the health and integrity of our market system,” said U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro.

“This case serves as a stark reminder that SIM swapping not only affects individuals but also institutions and agencies at the highest level,” Pirro added.

Matthew R. Galeotti, head of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, stated, “Council and his co-conspirators used sophisticated cyber means to compromise the SEC’s X account and market למarket8s attempt to quickly profit by fabricating and posting a false announcement.”

The SEC Inspector General, Deborah W. Jeffrey, and Special Agent Amanda L. James confirmed their continued cooperation in enforcing cybersecurity and account protection.

“The SEC’s social media accounts are valuable tools for communicating with the public,” said Special Agent James.

“We will continue to work closely with our partners at the FBI to identify and bring to justice those who attempt to deceive the investing public.”