U.S. prosecutors have unsealed a four-count indictment charging British citizen Kai West, known online as “IntelBroker,” with leading a global hacking operation that infiltrated the networks of more than 40 organisations and caused over $25 million in losses. The complaint, filed in the Southern District of New York, accuses West of conspiracy to commit computer intrusions, wire fraud and related offences, each carrying penalties that could bring a combined maximum sentence of roughly 50 years. West, 25, was arrested by French authorities in February and remains in pre-trial detention while the United States pursues extradition. According to the indictment, he and associates used the BreachForums marketplace to advertise stolen data, offering it for sale at least 41 times and posting it free or for site credits on 117 occasions. Prosecutors say the group sought to collect at least $2 million from sales involving sensitive information ranging from health records to internal corporate files. Victims cited by investigators include U.S. telecommunications and healthcare providers as well as major technology companies. The Federal Bureau of Investigation’s New York Field Office, which worked with international partners on the case, described West as a serial hacker whose online persona has been linked to breaches at firms such as AMD and Hewlett Packard Enterprise. The Justice Department’s action marks one of its most significant moves against an alleged administrator of BreachForums, a prominent venue for trafficking stolen data. Authorities in France have also arrested several other suspected forum operators, underscoring a widening crackdown on cyber-crime marketplaces.