Idaho man who threatened his hacking victims appeals his sentence in Georgia

Robert Purbeck, a Meridian, Idaho man who used the aliases “Lifelock” or “Studemaster,” pleaded guilty in March 2024 to two counts arising from hacking medical practices, exfiltrating data and sending threats to victims and their families during 2016–2018. He was sentenced in November 2024, with Judge Batten imposing a ten-year prison term rather than the 70 months urged by the prosecution in the plea deal, after emphasising the extensive harm to victims including Dr Simon and his family.

Purbeck was ordered to pay restitution of $1,048,702.98 to nine victims, and the court noted the conduct extended beyond mere financial crime to deliberate psychological torture. The sentencing hearing also highlighted an intervening civil filing in Idaho in which Purbeck allegedly doxed a U.S. Attorney and his family, a factor the judge considered in assessing the severity of the punishment.

Purbeck is currently challenging aspects of the sentence on appeal, including the prosecutors’ compliance with the plea agreement and variations in supervised‑release terms.