• Home
  • Latest
  • Fortune 500
  • Finance
  • Tech
  • Leadership
  • Lifestyle
  • Rankings
  • Multimedia

Trendingnow

1

I wrote that Boomers were choking America’s economy. Their responses to me were revealing

2

If Elon Musk merges SpaceX with Tesla he'll create a $3.4 trillion behemoth—with zero profits

3

A rare 'super' El Niño is looking more likely. Here’s what to expect

1

I wrote that Boomers were choking America’s economy. Their responses to me were revealing

2

If Elon Musk merges SpaceX with Tesla he'll create a $3.4 trillion behemoth—with zero profits

3

A rare 'super' El Niño is looking more likely. Here’s what to expect
Tech

Man Pleads Guilty to Massive iPhone Celebrity Photo Hack

By
Reuters
Reuters
Down Arrow Button Icon
By
Reuters
Reuters
Down Arrow Button Icon
September 27, 2016, 6:09 PM ET
NEW YORK, NY - NOVEMBER 18:  Jennifer Lawrence attends "The Hunger Games: Mockingjay- Part 2" New York Premiere at AMC Loews Lincoln Square 13 theater on November 18, 2015 in New York City.  (Photo by Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Jennifer Lawrence
NEW YORK, NY - NOVEMBER 18: Jennifer Lawrence attends "The Hunger Games: Mockingjay- Part 2" New York Premiere at AMC Loews Lincoln Square 13 theater on November 18, 2015 in New York City. (Photo by Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Jennifer LawrencePhotograph by Jamie McCarthy—Getty Images

An Illinois man pleaded guilty on Tuesday to hacking the e-mail accounts of high-profile female celebrities in a scandal linked to the online release of nude photos of Oscar-winning actress Jennifer Lawrence and others.

Edward Majerczyk, 29, pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court in Chicago to one felony change of unauthorized access to a protected computer to obtain information, charging documents showed.

While no victims were named in court documents, Lawrence and actress Kirsten Dunst and model Kate Upton have addressed the leak and online dissemination of their nude photos in interviews. The Chicago Tribune named those celebrities as among the victims, as well as U.S. soccer player Hope Solo.

Get Data Sheet, Fortune’s technology newsletter.

The Tribune reported that Majerczyk told U.S. District Judge Charles Kocoras on Tuesday that he targeted celebrities, going through personal information and downloading “sensitive images.”

His lawyer, Thomas Needham, did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The newspaper quoted Needham as telling the judge there was no evidence “of any effort by my client to sell or disseminate” any images.

“So essentially it was for his own personal satisfaction and enjoyment?” Kocoras said, according to the newspaper.

“Yes, your honor,” Needham was quoted as saying.

Representatives for Lawrence, Dunst, Solo, and Upton did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

Why Celebrity Hacking Is a Big Business Problem

Assistant U.S. Attorney Joseph Fitzpatrick for the Northern District of Illinois said by e-mail that his office agreed to seek a nine-month prison sentence for Majerczyk, who lives near Chicago. He declined to comment further.

Prosecutors said Majerczyk used a phishing scheme to illegally access more than 300 Apple (AAPL) iCloud and Google (GOOG) Gmail accounts to obtain photographs and other private information from more than 300 victims including high-profile female celebrities from November 2013 to August 2014.

In March, a Pennsylvania man agreed to plead guilty to a felony computer hacking charge linked to the scandal.

Majerczyk’s sentencing is scheduled for Jan. 10, the Tribune reported.

The newspaper cited a spokesman for the U.S. attorney’s office in Los Angeles as saying that the investigation was still ongoing into who leaked the private information online. Federal prosecutors in Los Angeles, where a number of the victims live, did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

About the Author
By Reuters
See full bioRight Arrow Button Icon

Latest in Tech

Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025

Most Popular

Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Fortune Secondary Logo
Rankings
  • 100 Best Companies
  • Fortune 500
  • Global 500
  • Fortune 500 Europe
  • Most Powerful Women
  • World's Most Admired Companies
  • See All Rankings
  • Lists Calendar
Sections
  • Finance
  • Fortune Crypto
  • Features
  • Leadership
  • Health
  • Commentary
  • Success
  • Retail
  • Mpw
  • Tech
  • Lifestyle
  • CEO Initiative
  • Asia
  • Politics
  • Conferences
  • Europe
  • Newsletters
  • Personal Finance
  • Environment
  • Magazine
  • Education
Customer Support
  • Frequently Asked Questions
  • Customer Service Portal
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms Of Use
  • Single Issues For Purchase
  • International Print
Commercial Services
  • Advertising
  • Fortune Brand Studio
  • Fortune Analytics
  • Fortune Conferences
  • Business Development
  • Group Subscriptions
About Us
  • About Us
  • Press Center
  • Work At Fortune
  • Terms And Conditions
  • Site Map
  • About Us
  • Press Center
  • Work At Fortune
  • Terms And Conditions
  • Site Map
  • Facebook icon
  • Twitter icon
  • LinkedIn icon
  • Instagram icon
  • Pinterest icon

Latest in Tech

A man sits at desk and looks anxiously at a computer screen
Economychief executive officer (CEO)
CEOs are losing confidence in the economy and expect conditions to worsen in the next six months, survey finds
By Jacqueline MunisJune 1, 2026
2 hours ago
Torsten Slok, chief economist of Apollo Management
SuccessJobs
Apollo chief economist says there’s ‘zero evidence’ AI is killing jobs—in fact, he says it’s creating them
By Emma BurleighJune 1, 2026
2 hours ago
The elderly and injured are using robots as home care support to help them get around their home
Innovationrobot
The elderly and injured are using robots as home care support to help them get around their home
By The Associated Press and Matt O'BrienJune 1, 2026
3 hours ago
Jensen Huang says Nvidia is ‘reinventing the personal computer’ as it unveils new powerful AI chips
AINvidia
Jensen Huang says Nvidia is ‘reinventing the personal computer’ as it unveils new powerful AI chips
By The Associated Press, Chan Ho-Him and TAIJING WUJune 1, 2026
3 hours ago
Malaysia bans children under 16 from using social media
AsiaSocial Media
Malaysia bans children under 16 from using social media
By The Associated Press and Eileen NgJune 1, 2026
3 hours ago
Elon Musk holding a glass of wine during a U.S. diplomatic visit to China
CryptoSpaceX
SpaceX’s $1.4 billion Bitcoin hoard is a strategic reserve—and an accounting headache
By Jack KubinecJune 1, 2026
3 hours ago

Most Popular

I wrote that Boomers were choking America’s economy. Their responses to me were revealing
Personal Finance
I wrote that Boomers were choking America’s economy. Their responses to me were revealing
By Nick LichtenbergMay 31, 2026
1 day ago
If Elon Musk merges SpaceX with Tesla he'll create a $3.4 trillion behemoth—with zero profits
Investing
If Elon Musk merges SpaceX with Tesla he'll create a $3.4 trillion behemoth—with zero profits
By Shawn TullyMay 31, 2026
1 day ago
A rare 'super' El Niño is looking more likely. Here’s what to expect
Environment
A rare 'super' El Niño is looking more likely. Here’s what to expect
By Brian K. Sullivan and BloombergMay 31, 2026
20 hours ago
When loyalty is rewarded: Top earners who stay in their jobs get much larger pay increases than those who switch
Future of Work
When loyalty is rewarded: Top earners who stay in their jobs get much larger pay increases than those who switch
By Jacqueline MunisMay 30, 2026
2 days ago
Ex–Google CEO Eric Schmidt warns U.S. tech workers: Competing with China’s grueling 12-hour workdays means sacrificing work-life balance
Future of Work
Ex–Google CEO Eric Schmidt warns U.S. tech workers: Competing with China’s grueling 12-hour workdays means sacrificing work-life balance
By Marco Quiroz-GutierrezMay 30, 2026
2 days ago
Jamie Dimon tells Gen Z to 'learn how to think, learn how to earn respect' as he describes 'great meeting' with Zohran Mamdani
Success
Jamie Dimon tells Gen Z to 'learn how to think, learn how to earn respect' as he describes 'great meeting' with Zohran Mamdani
By Nick LichtenbergMay 29, 2026
3 days ago

© 2026 Fortune Media IP Limited. All Rights Reserved. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy | CA Notice at Collection and Privacy Notice | Do Not Sell/Share My Personal Information
FORTUNE is a trademark of Fortune Media IP Limited, registered in the U.S. and other countries. FORTUNE may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. Offers may be subject to change without notice.