Feds arrest Loveland man in some U. of Pitt threats

PITTSBURGH - A local man has been accused of threatening to release private records on students at the University of Pittsburgh that he allegedly claimed were stolen by the international hacking group Anonymous.

The campus was subject to a series of dozens of bomb threats this year. Authorities say Alexander Waterland, 24, of Loveland, Ohio, threatened to release the hacked records unless the school apologized for not "protecting" students from the earlier bomb threats.

Waterland was arrested Wednesday morning by federal agents. He is expected to appear in court Wednesday afternoon.

Investigators say Waterland posted the message using the computer name AnonOperative13 claiming that a computer hacking group known as "Anonymous" had stolen records of students, faculty and alumni from university computers. According to the criminal complaint, the video was posted on YouTube on April 26, 2012.

On May 2, 2012, AnonOperative13 posted a comment about the video, which included information about specific university employees and stated terms and a deadline for an apology.

"These charges pertain to specific cyberthreats in April and May of this year that targeted the Univeristy of Pittsburgh and caused disruption in campus operations, said U.S. Attorney David J. Hickton.

The charges carry a maximum penalty of seven years in prison and/or a fine of $500,000.

The investigation was handled by the FBI Pittsburgh Division and the University of Pittsburgh Police Department.

Pitt officials haven't immediately commented on the arrest.

It's unclear if the suspect has an attorney.