Brett Johnson, once dubbed the United States’ most wanted cyber criminal, is now a cybersecurity expert and public speaker. In this engaging conversation, he shares his journey from creating Shadowcrew, a forerunner of the dark web, to finding redemption through family and cooperative law enforcement. They explore the influence of childhood trauma on criminality, the psychology behind identity theft, and the complexities of morality and choice in the digital age. Johnson's transformation highlights the potential for change and the importance of support in overcoming a troubled past.
The speaker transitioned from a life of crime to working on the positive side of the universe, raising awareness about online crime and its dangers.
Online interactions provide an environment for psychopathic individuals to thrive without the usual checks and balances, contributing to polarization and criminal behavior.
Despite engaging in criminal activities, the speaker chose to remain sober to maintain control and avoid destructive patterns witnessed in their mother's drug use.
A supportive high school environment and a dedicated teacher played a pivotal role in turning the speaker's life around and giving them hope for a better future.
The speaker utilized online forums and built a network to engage in various criminal activities, including selling counterfeit goods and committing identity theft.
Deep dives
First Paragaraph Title
After a rough upbringing and involvement in criminal activities facilitated by the darker edges of the web, the speaker decided to shift to working on the positive side of the universe. They discuss their involvement in the early cybercrime community called Shadow Crew, which served as a platform for networking criminals, sharing stolen data, tools, and cashing out illegal activities. The podcast explores the speaker's decision to turn their life around and work with law enforcement agencies, corporations, and the general public to raise awareness about online crime and its dangers.
Second Paragraph Title
The podcast delves into the dark tetrad model, a group of personality descriptors: Machiavellianism, psychopathy, narcissism, and sadism. The speaker explains how the virtualization of the world, especially in online interactions, allows psychopathic individuals to flourish without the usual checks and balances present in face-to-face interactions. This lack of control can contribute to polarization and the spread of online criminal behavior and manipulated influence. The speaker expresses concern about the impact of disinhibited psychopathic types on the increasing cultural polarization.
Third Paragraph Title
The speaker recounts their personal experiences and the origins of their criminal activities, which began with shoplifting and expanded to other illicit endeavors. Despite being involved in criminal behavior, the speaker chose not to use drugs or alcohol, driven by a desire to remain in control and avoid the destructive patterns they witnessed in their mother's drug use and the associated abusive behaviors. They felt remorse for their actions, but the consequences of their offenses led to becoming a pariah in their small community.
Fourth Paragraph Title
After a phase in juvenile detention and subsequent psychological evaluation, the speaker found a second chance and acceptance in a supportive high school environment. A dedicated teacher and surrogate mother figure recognized their potential, provided guidance, and opened doors for successful participation in academics and theater. This positive period marked a turning point for the speaker, giving them hope for a better future. However, challenges arose in college when they fell in love, leading to unexpected complications and a departure from the promising path they had begun to forge.
Transition into Online Fraud
After serving time in jail for telemarketing fraud, the speaker transitions to committing online fraud. They start with selling counterfeit Beanie Babies on eBay by dyeing grey elephants blue. They then move on to pirated software, satellite DSS card programming, and creating fake IDs.
Learning from Online Forums
The speaker learns various criminal activities, such as programming mod chips, through online forums and builds a network with individuals who specialize in different areas of fraud. They partner with someone who can make fake IDs and another person who can program social security cards.
Becoming a Trusted Reviewer
The speaker becomes a reviewer on a platform called Counterfeit Library, where they provide unbiased reviews of illegal products and services. They offer compensation to anyone who gets ripped off based on their positive reviews, establishing trust within the criminal network.
The Power of Online Fraud
The speaker explores the criminal opportunities enabled by the internet and the anonymity it provides. They detail the necessity of deception, manipulation, and exploiting loopholes to commit their crimes successfully.
The Rise and Fall of Shadow Crew
During the podcast episode, the speaker discusses the rise and fall of an online criminal network called Shadow Crew. At its peak, Shadow Crew had 4,000 members who were responsible for a significant amount of criminal activity. Many individuals connected to Shadow Crew have been arrested for cyber crimes since its demise. The speaker also highlights the exponential growth of cyber crime over the years, with the activity today surpassing the size of many national economies. Additionally, it is revealed that countries like North Korea generate significant funding for their nuclear program through cyber crime.
The Story of Tax Return Identity Theft
The podcast delves into the story of the speaker getting involved in tax return identity theft. The speaker explains how they started with small-scale identity theft using databases like the Indiana State sex offenders registry and the Texas DMV. This eventually led to filing false tax returns and receiving large refunds before verification. The speaker did hundreds of tax returns per week, leading to significant financial gain, but ultimately got caught when trying to purchase luxury items like Tiffany jewelry using counterfeit cashier's checks. The speaker also mentions their willingness to cooperate with law enforcement, alluding to their involvement as an informant.
Dr. Jordan B. Peterson sits down in-person with Brett Johnson, formerly the United States’ most wanted cyber criminal, now a public speaker and expert on cyber security. They discuss the nurturing of a child into a criminal, the compartmentalization of guilt, the psychology of exploitation, the creation of the precursor to the dark web, and what caused Johnson to walk away completely.
Brett Johnson. Former U.S. Most Wanted Cybercriminal. Now Good Guy. The United States Secret Service called Mr. Johnson "The Original Internet Godfather" for his role in refining modern financial cybercrime. Or to put it another way: Brett was convicted of 39 felonies, placed on the U.S. Most Wanted List, escaped from prison, and … he built the first organized cybercrime community, Shadowcrew. Shadowcrew was a precursor to today's darknet and darknet markets, and it laid the foundation for the way modern cybercrime channels operate today. Johnson was sentenced to 90 months in Federal Prison. End of story? Not hardly. Brett found redemption through his sister, his wife Michele, and finally the FBI. He was given the chance to turn his life around. He took it. Today, Brett is considered one of the leading authorities on cybercrime, identity theft, and cybersecurity on the planet. He works hard to protect businesses and consumers from the type of person he used to be.
- Links -
For Brett Johnson:
On X https://twitter.com/gollumfun?lang=en
On LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/gollumfun/
The Brett Johnson Show (website) https://www.thebrettjohnsonshow.com/
The Brett Johnson Show (youtube) https://www.youtube.com/@brettjohnsonshow
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