Kentucky man convicted of hacking state systems to fake his death and avoid paying child support

A Somerset, Kentucky man was sentenced to prison after hacking state registration systems and faking his own death to avoid paying child support.

The U.S. Department of Justice announced that 39-year-old Jesse Kipf was sentenced to 81 months in prison on Monday for computer fraud and aggravated identity theft.

According to federal court documents, Kipf is accused of hacking government systems in Hawaii, Arizona and Vermont, as well as two private companies: GuestTek Interactive Entertainment, which provides Internet access in hotels, and Milestone Inc., a marketing company.

In January 2023, when Kipf owed his ex in California a six-figure sum, federal prosecutors say he obtained a doctor's credential, logged into Hawaii's death registry system and created a file for his own untimely death.

Kentucky father hacks his way through Hawaii to fake his death rather than pay six-figure child support debt

He then filled out and submitted a death certificate in the role of doctor. Court records show that he was then reported dead in several government databases.

According to prosecutors, he also hacked other death registers and penetrated private corporate networks in order to sell access on the darknet.

He is also accused of opening credit cards with fake social security numbers after faking his death in order to start a new life.

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The Justice Department said Kipf pleaded guilty to crimes he committed for his own benefit.

“This scheme was a cynical and destructive attempt, based in part on the inexcusable goal of evading his child support obligations,” said Carlton S. Shier, IV, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky. “This case is a stark reminder of how damaging computer criminals can be and how important computer and online security is to all of us.”

“Fortunately, thanks to the excellent work of our law enforcement partners, this case will serve as a warning to other cybercriminals, and he will face the consequences of his shameful behavior.”

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Kipf must serve 85% of his sentence under federal law and will be on probation for three years after his release.

The Justice Department added that damage to the government and company's computer systems, as well as Kipf's failure to pay its child support obligations, totaled $195,759.

Michael Ruiz of Fox News Digital contributed to this report.