Cameron LaCroix

Early Life

Cameron LaCroix grew up in New Bedford, Massachusetts. According to an NBC News interview, he developed an obsession with computers at age 11, a period that came six years after his mother died from a drug overdose. He has operated online under the handles camo, cam0, camZero, and cmuNNY.

Early Hacking Activity and First Conviction

LaCroix came to public attention through a series of unauthorized intrusions into computer systems. Among the most widely reported incidents was his breach of Paris Hilton's cellular phone, as well as unauthorized access to LexisNexis. Prosecutors determined that victims of his actions suffered approximately $1 million in damages.

Pursuant to a plea agreement signed in August 2005, LaCroix received 11 months in a federally contracted juvenile detention facility. Following his release, he was barred from using any device similar to a computer, a restriction that he later described as making it difficult to socialize and find employment. In January 2007, his supervised release was revoked after he was found to be in possession of a cell phone.

Twitter Account Takeovers and Second Conviction

In 2013, LaCroix defaced the Twitter accounts of two major brands. Jeep's account was altered to falsely indicate that the company had been purchased by General Motors' Cadillac brand, while Burger King's account was modified to suggest the chain had been sold to McDonald's. In July 2014, he was charged with additional offenses stemming from these account takeovers, along with related computer hacking and payment card theft charges.

On October 27, 2014, LaCroix was sentenced to 48 months of incarceration after entering a plea agreement. Reporting at the time noted that the charges also encompassed hacking activity at Bristol Community College, including allegations of grade changes.

Public Appearance and Apology

A week after his sentencing, LaCroix appeared as a guest on NBC's Today Show, where he was interviewed by Jeff Rossen. During the segment, he extended a public apology to Paris Hilton and reflected on his history with hacking. The interview revisited his early fixation with computers and the personal circumstances of his childhood.

Civil Complaint and Alleged FBI Misconduct

On December 24, 2025, an amended civil complaint was filed by LaCroix in the U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts (case no. 1:25-cv-13452). The complaint alleges that details of an undercover FBI operation were unintentionally disclosed to him. LaCroix alleged that federal agents hacked his wireless network, harassed him in public, and planted American Express gift cards in a rideshare vehicle.

The complaint further alleges the government's misuse of a cell site simulator, a type of device that the ACLU has advocated regulating on Fourth Amendment grounds, and contends that its use may have affected innocent customers of Mint Mobile. According to the complaint, the FBI's Office of the Inspector General opened an internal probe after one of the undercover agents involved in the investigation was arrested. The complaint references audio recordings in which an investigator allegedly acknowledges that the arrest would affect the investigation. The case was reassigned to District Judge Allison D. Burroughs on December 16, 2025, and remains pending.

Recognition and Coverage

LaCroix's hacking activity has been covered by outlets including Ars Technica, Wired, CNBC, and the Boston Globe. His early intrusions are also referenced in Scott J. Shapiro's 2023 book Fancy Bear Goes Phishing: The Dark History of the Information Age, in Five Extraordinary Hacks, published by Farrar, Straus and Giroux. As of the time of writing, he is described as a cybersecurity student.