Aussie ‘alien’, hacker David Kee Crees arrested by US officials

The US’s notorious immigration agency, ICE, has boasted about nabbing an “Australian alien” extradited to face fraud charges.

US immigration officers have arrested an Australian “hacker” known as DR32, who this year pleaded guilty to more than a dozen charges related to computer fraud in an American federal court.

Adelaide man David Kee Crees, 26, was sprung by undercover US Homeland Security officers who offered him money in exchange for targeted hacking and theft.

A South Australian court granted his extradition to Colorado in 2022 to face a 22-count indictment, although Crees did not make his first appearance until early 2024.

Australian man David Crees has been detained by ICE. Picture: Supplied

He pleaded guilty to 14 charges in January — tied to his activities between June 2020 and July 2021 — and was last month sentenced to time served, according to local media reports.

Now the notorious US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) have released an image of a handcuffed Crees in the custody of its officers, with the caption “fraudster arrested”.

“HSI Denver special agents arrested David Kee Crees, 26, an Australian national with a rap sheet that includes: Multiple convictions for computer fraud, pending charges for money laundering, pending charges for ID fraud.

David Cee Crees aka DR32 was extradited to the US to face court. Picture: Facebook.

“He will remain in ICE custody pending removal to Australia.

“America is NOT a safe haven for international fraudsters. Another one off our streets.”

On the ICE Instagram page, the agency called Crees an “Australian alien” and said he was arrested “because he has multiple computer fraud convictions”.

An Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade spokesperson confirmed to news.com.au it provided consular assistance to an Australian who was detained in the United States.

“Owing to our privacy obligations we are unable to provide further comment,” they said.

Databreaches.net, a site that tracks online security issues, reported Crees was released on supervision for one year after his sentencing in court and was ordered to forfeit $245,000 to the US government.

Crees has previously been tied to a pseudonym, Abdilo, suspected of involvement in major hacking events in Australia, including the breach of hundreds of thousands of Aussie Travel Cover clients in 2015.

No charges were laid against Crees in Australia.

The Adelaide Advertiser reported in 2023 that Crees’ interest in biohacking had caused issues for prison staff while he was being held ahead of his extradition.

The Collinswood man had microchips embedded in his hands, which reportedly set off metal detectors in the jail.

ICE has been tasked by US President Donald Trump with deporting people the administration claims were in the country illegally.

Its hard line tactics have proved controversial in America, and have drawn widespread condemnation, including in the form of wild protests in Los Angeles and New York this weekend.