In the Federal Court of San Diego, Australian Omemam Elhasen has been sentenced to 63 months (5.25 years) in prison for his involvement in an international conspiracy related to the sale of encrypted devices to criminal organizations. These devices were utilized by criminals to coordinate drug trafficking and other illicit activities. For more details on the case, click here.
Elhasen was among the 17 individuals implicated in the case that emerged from the Trojan Shield operation. During this operation, the FBI managed the ANOM platform, a tool used by criminals for secure communications. This enabled law enforcement to intercept over 27 million messages and apprehend numerous individuals globally.
The court revealed that Elhasen was involved in distributing ANOM from Colombia, as well as participating in drug trafficking and money laundering activities. In 2024, he pleaded guilty and confessed to his role in forming a criminal organization. Elhasen facilitated the sale of devices for over a year and a half, assisting in transporting at least 15 kilograms of illicit substances.
An analysis of ANOM indicated that Elhasen actively promoted the devices in Colombia and other countries. He organized technical support, managed subscription extensions, and contributed to establishing service prices.
In 2021, Elhasen was apprehended in Colombia and subsequently extradited to the United States. Upon sentencing, US prosecutor Tara McGrata stated that even advanced technologies cannot shield criminals from accountability. Staisi, the head of the FBI department in San Diego, emphasized that such devices not only offer communication services but also aid transnational criminal activities.
Three other defendants in the case have pleaded guilty and await sentencing. Eight additional suspects have yet to be extradited, and one remains at large.