Former Homeland Security Worker Pleads Guilty to Blackmail

A former Department of Homeland Security employee pleaded guilty Friday to stealing a nude photo of a woman and attempting to blackmail her, as prosecutors worried there could be close to 100 victims in the case.

Mauricio Cerruto-Rios, 28, of Silver Spring, pleaded guilty in Montgomery County Circuit Court to one count of illegal access to a computer and was sentenced to 18 months in jail.

“This individual hacked the computers, emails and Facebook postings of various women,” Ramon Korionoff, with the Montgomery County State’s Attorney’s Office told WTOP.

Cerruto-Rios, a former Marine Reservist, obtained nude photographs of his victims, then threatened them, demanding more pictures or information on other women, prosecutors said.

Other charges are possible in the case. While one woman contacted authorities, prosecutors say there could be as many as 100 other victims.

Due to the charges against him, Cerruto-Rios lost his job and his security clearance.