Nick Pasqual Arrested in Connection with Major Supply Chain Data Breach
LOS ANGELES, CA — Nick Pasqual, a 34-year-old former cybersecurity contractor, has been arrested by federal authorities in connection with a large-scale data breach affecting at least three Fortune 500 companies, law enforcement officials confirmed today.
The arrest occurred at approximately 6:30 a.m. Pacific Time at Pasqual’s residence in Sherman Oaks, following a joint investigation by the FBI and the Department of Homeland Security. Pasqual is charged with unauthorized access to protected computer systems, wire fraud, and identity theft, stemming from activities dating back to June 2024. Authorities allege he exploited vulnerabilities in cloud-based supply chain software to exfiltrate sensitive data involving over 2 million customer records.
What happened involves the theft of employee credentials and proprietary logistics information, which prosecutors claim was intended for sale on illicit online marketplaces. The breach compromised financial and personal data from firms in the retail and healthcare sectors, though no further details on the victims have been released pending notification.
Where the crimes allegedly occurred includes servers traced to locations in California, Texas, and overseas, with Pasqual reportedly operating from his home office.
Why this case has drawn significant attention is due to the scale of the data and Pasqual’s former clearance-level access, raising questions about insider threats in critical infrastructure. He now faces a maximum sentence of 25 years in federal prison if convicted.
The suspect is scheduled to appear for arraignment tomorrow at the United States District Court in Los Angeles. A judge denied bail, citing flight risk and the severity of the charges.