Executive Summary
Laws and Precedent
A Palm Coast man, Noah Michael Urban, 20, known by online aliases including “King Bob,” has been sentenced to 10 years in federal prison for his role in a sophisticated scheme that stole over $13 million in cryptocurrency from at least 59 victims nationwide. Senior U.S. District Judge Harvey E. Schlesinger also ordered Urban to forfeit approximately $4.8 million in assets, including cryptocurrency, and pay $13 million in restitution. Urban previously pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud, wire fraud, and aggravated identity theft on April 4, 2025.
Details of the Cybercrime Operation
From August 2022 to March 2023, Urban and his co-conspirators executed targeted “SIM swap” attacks. This method involved tricking mobile carriers into transferring a victim’s phone number to a device controlled by the hackers. Once they obtained personal identification information (PII) through these attacks, Urban then gained unauthorized access to victims’ online cryptocurrency accounts.
During the same period, Urban was also part of a group that launched phishing text message campaigns against employees of companies across the nation. The stolen employee credentials were then used to infiltrate corporate networks and pilfer non-public company data and information. This allowed the group to further expand their reach and access sensitive information.
The group leveraged information acquired from these corporate intrusions, along with leaked data sets and other sources, to gain unauthorized access to numerous individuals’ cryptocurrency accounts and digital wallets. This widespread operation resulted in the theft of millions of dollars in virtual currency from victims across the United States.
Investigation and Sentencing
The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) executed a search warrant at Urban’s Palm Coast residence, where investigators uncovered crucial evidence on his computer. This evidence directly linked Urban to the email accounts and cryptocurrency wallets of the victims, providing a clear trail of his involvement in the illicit activities.
Investigators also found approximately $4.8 million in stolen cryptocurrency from the victims’ accounts on Urban’s devices. The total financial loss incurred by the victims through these elaborate schemes exceeded $13 million, highlighting the significant impact of Urban’s criminal enterprise.
The court’s order for Urban to forfeit assets and pay restitution aims to recover some of the significant losses suffered by the victims. His guilty plea on April 4, 2025, preceded the sentencing, which now sends him to federal prison for a decade.
Broader Implications
The sentencing of Noah Michael Urban underscores the severe consequences for individuals engaging in complex digital fraud and identity theft. Federal authorities continue to prioritize the investigation and prosecution of cybercriminals who target individuals and companies through sophisticated hacking and social engineering tactics, sending a strong message about the commitment to combating digital crime.
