Buffalo Police Detective, Terrance Michael Ciszek, who is also more commonly known online as “DrMonster,” has recently been accused by a federal grand jury of purchasing stolen account details from the darknet marketplace Genesis Market and for lying to the FBI, which has got him into some serious legal troubles.
The 34-year-old, former detective is facing charges of possession of unauthorized access devices with intent to defraud, as well as making false statements to federal agents. If he ends up being convicted, Ciszek could face up to as much as 10 years in prison for each charge, which is a serious outcome that could permanently end his law enforcement career.
Key Insights
- Terrance Michael Ciszek, a former Buffalo Police detective, was accused of purchasing stolen credentials from Genesis Market and lying to the FBI.
- He faces charges of possessing unauthorized access devices with intent to defraud and making false statements to federal agents.
- Ciszek allegedly bought 194 sets of stolen usernames and passwords between March and July 2020 from Genesis Market and also accessed UniCC, a darknet site focused on credit card fraud.
- The FBI connected Ciszek to these illegal activities using digital forensics, including tracing Bitcoin payments from his CashApp account.
- A video from April 2020 showed Ciszek explaining methods to avoid detection when buying stolen credit card data, further implicating him.
- Ciszek’s court appearance on May 2, 2023, led to his suspension from the Buffalo Police Department, though he continued receiving pay pending the investigation.
- Corey Robert Dodge, another Buffalo resident, was arrested in connection with the same investigation for purchasing 8,586 stolen credentials from Genesis Market.
- Both arrests were part of “Operation Cookie Monster,” a global initiative to dismantle Genesis Market, which resulted in over 170 arrests worldwide.
Criminal Charges and Courtroom Proceedings
Ciszek’s legal troubles are linked to his alleged online activities between March and July 2020. Prosecutors say that during this period, Ciszek purchased 11 data packages containing 194 sets of stolen usernames and passwords from Genesis Market. His involvement didn’t stop there, investigators also connected him to UniCC, another darknet site, that specializes in stolen credit card information. When the FBI questioned him in April 2023, Ciszek tried to shift the blame by claiming his nephew was responsible for the purchases. This denial ended up leading to an additional charge for making false statements to federal agents.
The first time Ciszek appeared in court was on May 2, 2023, he was there and then, suspended from the Buffalo Police Department pending the investigation, while he continues to receive ongoing pay during this period. His case has brought a lot of attention because it involves a detective breaking the very laws he was sworn to uphold, which is unfortunately very ironic.
Inside the FBI’s Investigation of Ciszek’s Darknet Usage
The FBI’s investigation into Ciszek was part of a larger effort targeting Genesis Market, a notorious darknet marketplace selling stolen data. The site had become the main hub for cybercriminals looking to buy everything from login details to device fingerprints, which could be used to bypass security systems like multi-factor authentication. By 2020, the FBI found Ciszek, operating under the alias “DrMonster,” as a buyer after he purchased 11 packages containing 194 stolen sets of usernames and passwords over four months.
The FBI used several digital forensic techniques to connect Ciszek’s online activity to his real-world identity. A key piece of evidence was his CashApp account, which was registered using his driver’s license. They traced Bitcoin payments from this account to Genesis Market and UniCC, another darknet marketplace that specializes in stolen credit card data.
Ciszek’s home IP address was also tied to logins on these platforms, providing investigators with a solid link between his illegal purchases and his real identity, which some might call a rookie error. Additionally, blockchain analysis later confirmed that his cryptocurrency transactions led back to these darknet sites.
A major break in the case came when the FBI found a video that was recorded by Ciszek in April 2020. In this video, Ciszek explained how to hide one’s identity while buying stolen credit cards on the darknet and praised UniCC as a reliable source for these illegal goods.
In the video, he stated, among other things, “And then I usually get my credit cards from UniCC, which is an amazing place if you guys don’t have it.
The video provided some very clear evidence of Ciszek’s knowledge of darknet operations and his efforts to help others and try to avoid law enforcement detection, which failed miserably. When confronted by the FBI in April 2023, Ciszek denied any involvement and even shifted the blame onto his nephew for the purchases, but the digital evidence left no room for doubt. His false claims only led to additional charges.
Corey Robert Dodge: Another Arrest in the Takedown
Ciszek wasn’t the only Buffalo resident who was arrested in the FBI’s crackdown on Genesis Market. Corey Robert Dodge, who used the alias “Cakesbaylor,” was also charged for his involvement in purchasing stolen data from the darknet marketplace. Between March 2020 and May 2021, Dodge allegedly bought 14 packages that contained around 8,586 sets of stolen credentials. These purchases included account details for major services like PayPal, eBay, and Venmo, which just showed the extensive reach of Genesis Market, which catered to both small-time buyers and larger-scale criminals like Dodge
Both Ciszek and Dodge were arrested as part of “Operation Cookie Monster,” a global effort led by the FBI to bring down Genesis Market. This international operation resulted in over 170 arrests worldwide and successfully shut down one of the largest sources of stolen data on the darknet.
Conclusion
The fact that someone like Detective Ciszek, whose job was to enforce the law, got involved with darknet markets like Genesis Market shows just how far these criminal networks have reached. It’s not just regular users getting drawn into this dark place but even trusted institutions like law enforcement. This just shows how dangerous the influence of the darknet is, pulling in people who should be on the right side of the law.
With Genesis Market now shut down, the FBI and other global law enforcement agencies have struck a big blow to cybercriminal operations. However, similar sites continue to pop up daily, meaning the fight against cybercrime isn’t over yet. The battle to stop these illegal activities will require continued global cooperation and effort from law enforcement to stay ahead of these ever-evolving threats.