Former ADT tech pleads guilty to hacking home security footage

DALLAS—A former ADT home security technician has pleaded guilty to repeatedly hacking into customers’ video feeds, according to Acting U.S. Attorney for the Northern District Prerak Shah.

“This defendant, entrusted with safeguarding customers’ homes, instead intruded on their most intimate moments,” said Shah. “We are glad to hold him accountable for this disgusting betrayal of trust.”

Telesforo Aviles, a 35-year-old former ADT employee, pleaded guilty to computer fraud last week before Magistrate Judge David Horan.

“The defendant used his position of employment to illegally breach the privacy of numerous people. The FBI works with our law enforcement partners to thoroughly investigate all cyber intrusions and hold criminals accountable for their actions,” said FBI Dallas Special Agent in Charge Matthew J. DeSarno. “Cyber intrusions do not only affect businesses, but also members of the public. We encourage everyone to practice cyber hygiene with all their connected devices by reviewing authorized users and routinely changing passwords. If you become the victim of a cybercrime, please contact the FBI through ic3.gov or 1-800-CALL FBI.”

According to plea papers, Aviles admits that contrary to company policy, he routinely added his personal email address to customers’ “ADT Pulse” accounts, giving himself real-time access to the video feeds from their homes. In some instances, he claimed he needed to add himself temporarily in order to “test” the system; in other instances, he added himself without their knowledge.

Aviles took note of which homes had attractive women, then repeatedly logged into these customers’ accounts in order to view their footage for sexual gratification, he admits. Plea papers indicate he watched numerous videos of naked women and couples engaging in sexual activity inside their homes.

Over a four-and-a-half-year period, Aviles secretly accessed roughly 200 customer accounts more than 9,600 times without their consent, he admits.

Aviles, who waived indictment and was charged via an information, now faces up to five years in federal prison. The Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Dallas Field Office conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Sid Mody is prosecuting the case.