Arrest in case tied to Pitt bombs

A man is charged with threats, extortion.

By Joe Mandak, Associated Press
Posted: June 21, 2012

PITTSBURGH - An Ohio man was arrested Wednesday on federal charges that he posted an anonymous YouTube video and a follow-up comment claiming to have stolen computer records from the University of Pittsburgh and threatening to release them unless the school's chancellor made a public apology.

Alexander Waterland, 24, a Loveland, Ohio, man who worked as a computer specialist for an online prescription-drug service, was released on bond by a federal magistrate in Cincinnati, with the understanding that he will appear before a magistrate in Western Pennsylvania next week, according to U.S. Attorney David Hickton's office in Pittsburgh.

Hickton said he could not answer questions because the investigation was continuing into Waterland's alleged activities, as well as bomb threats that disrupted classes and dorm life for weeks this year.

Waterland is not charged with making the bomb threats. He faces one count each of interstate threats and extortion and Internet extortion involving a protected computer. The Pitt computers are considered "protected" under federal law because they contain the personal information of students, faculty, and staff.

Pitt officials did not immediately return requests for comment on Waterland's arrest, but they have said the computer records now linked to the charges against Waterland were never hacked.

Waterland was represented by assistant federal public defender Karen Savir during his court appearance in Cincinnati. She didn't immediately return a call or an e-mail, and Waterland didn't answer a message left on his cellphone.

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