Internet 'domain jacker' jailed for 20 years over armed website heist

A man has been jailed for 20 years over the first known instance of armed "domain hijacking" in which he sought to gain control of a website at gunpoint.

Sherman Hopkins Jr, 43, broke into the apartment of an internet entrepreneur in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, wearing pantyhose on his head, dark sunglasses, and brandishing a stolen handgun.

He demanded that Ethan Deyo, 26, get on his computer and transfer owenership of the internet domain name DoItForState.com from one account to another.

After being pistol-whipped and repeatedly targeted with a Taser, Deyo gained control of the handgun during which he was shot in the leg.

He then shot Hopkins several times in the chest and called police.

Hopkins, who survived the incident in on June 21 last year, pleaded guilty to one count of "interference and attempted interference with commerce by threats and violence".

The sentence was the result of a plea deal with prosecutors as he had previously been charged with more serious offences including kidnapping and use of a firearm during a violent crime.

DoItForState.com had already been inactive for a month before the attempted "domain jacking".

The website had emerged from the University of Iowa as a forum for college students to post images of parties and wild antics.

Before it was taken down the website described itself as showing "College stories, College Life, College Snaps.”

A local police spokesman said the domain name was "valuable" and Hopkins had wanted it "transferred back" to a third party. It was not clear who the third party was.

When Hopkins broke into his home Deyo, who previously worked for a company that hosts domain names, locked himself in a bedroom but the the home invader broke down the door.

A criminal complaint from the US Attorney's Office in Iowa said: "Hopkins pulled out a piece of paper from his pocket, which contained a series of directions on how to change an internet domain name from one account to another account.

"Hopkins put the firearm against the victim’s head and ordered him to follow the directions on the piece of paper. Hopkins also took the victim’s cell phone and threw it so that he could not call for help."

When Deyo asked for a postal address and phone number, because they were required to transfer ownership of the domain name, Hopkins pistol-whipped him, then pulled out the Taser and used it several times.

The complaint said: "Hopkins then cocked the gun. Fearing for his life, the victim quickly turned to move the gun away from his head.  The victim then managed to gain control of the gun, but during the struggle he was shot in the leg.

"The victim shot Hopkins multiple times in his chest. He then contacted law enforcement."

So-called "domain hijacking" is when someone gets control over a website illegally and it has happened many times, but the Iowa incident was thought to be the first time it has been done by an armed assailant.

Sentencing Hopkins in Iowa, US District Senior Judge Linde Reade said his actions had been "brutal and senseless".