A 20-year-old man from Palm Coast, Florida, has been sentenced to 10 years in federal prison for cybercrimes linked to a hacking group known as Scattered Spider.
Noah Michael Urban, who went by the online name “King Bob,” pleaded guilty in April 2025 to conspiracy, wire fraud, and aggravated identity theft. He was sentenced on 20 August and ordered to pay $13 million in restitution to 59 victims.
Prosecutors said Urban stole more than $800,000 in cryptocurrency from at least five people between August 2022 and March 2023. He and his accomplices used “SIM swapping,” a method that tricks mobile carriers into transferring victims’ phone numbers to devices they control, giving them access to cryptocurrency accounts.
The group also targeted large companies, including MGM Resorts and Caesars Entertainment, stealing sensitive data to use for extortion.
Urban also became known for leaking unreleased music from artists such as Playboi Carti, Lil Uzi Vert, and Ariana Grande. Investigators said he accessed tracks by hacking music industry executives’ accounts, though these leaks were not part of the charges. The incidents disrupted album releases and drew criticism from artists, with Ariana Grande publicly expressing frustration in 2023.
During sentencing, Urban argued that the punishment was excessive given his age, but the judge imposed a 120-month sentence, two years longer than prosecutors had requested. He will also face three years of supervised release after serving his prison term.
Authorities say Scattered Spider is largely made up of young hackers skilled in social engineering techniques, including phishing and bypassing multi-factor authentication. Federal investigations into other members are ongoing.
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