Kitchener, Ont. man makes brief court appearance in data breach extradition case

Connor Moucka, also known as Alexander Moucka, in a photo taken by RCMP surveillance on Oct. 21, 2024. (Source: Court documents)

A Kitchener, Ont. man, accused of being the mastermind behind a massive data breach, made another brief court appearance on Friday.

Connor Moucka, 25, remains in custody at Maplehurst Correctional Centre and appeared via video.

According to a U.S. court indictment, Moucka and John Erin Binns devised and executed an international computer hacking and wire fraud scheme. Several large U.S. companies were impacted by the breach. They allegedly included AT&T, Live Nation and Advance Auto Parts.

Court documents stated 50 billion call and text records were stolen, as well as customer data from a major retailer, major entertainment company and major health care company.

It’s also alleged the hackers extorted almost $2.5 million in ransoms from at least three companies.

Investigators tracked Moucka to Kitchener, where he was living in the Stanley Park neighbourhood, and arrested him on Oct. 30.

Moucka is currently facing an extradition request from the United States.

On Friday, all parties agreed to return to court on Jan. 31.

A second court date was set for Jan. 23 to discuss the evidence in the case.