An suspected computer hacker charged with stealing personnel information from the U.S. military and distributing that data to the Islamic State terror group was extradited to the U.S. from Malaysia on Wednesday.
He was the first hacker arrested for allegedly helping ISIS, The Hill reports.
Ardit Ferizi, a 20-year-old citizen of Kosovo, appeared before a federal judge in Alexandria, Va. His next court appearance is set for Friday afternoon. Ferizi’s arrest was first announced in October.
Known as “Th3Dir3ctorY,” Ferizi is alleged to be the head of an Internet hacking group in Kosovo, according to a Department of Justice press release. Authorities have charged that he stole the “personally identifiable information” from more than 1,000 service members and federal employees and then turned that info over to ISIS.
Ferizi could face 35 years in prison if convicted.
“This arrest demonstrates our resolve to confront and disrupt ISIL’s efforts to target Americans, in whatever form and wherever they occur,” Assistant Attorney General John Carlin said in an October press release.
Fox News’ Matt Dean contributed to this report.
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