The Robert E. Coyle Federal Courthouse in Downtown Fresno. File photo

A Fresno County Navy couple pleaded guilty Monday to stealing people’s personal information and selling it on the dark web for $160,000.

Marquis Hooper, 32, and Natasha Chalk, 39, of Selma, hacked their way into a background check database that contained personality identifiable information, according to court documents. Hooper, a Naval chief petty officer, opened an account with a private company that maintains a database with  millions of people. Access to the system is restricted to businesses and government agencies with a lawful need for personal information.

Starting in August 2018, Hooper started an account by falsely representing that the Navy needed him to perform background checks on sailors. Hooper added Chalk, a Naval reservist, to the account. Together they accessed personal information of more than 9,000 people and sold it on the dark web for $160,000 in digital currency, according to court documents.

Some of the people who purchased the information on the dark web used it to commit other crimes, according to court documents. One person used the information to create a driver’s license in a victim’s name and unsuccessfully attempted to withdraw money from the victim’s bank account.

In December 2018, Hooper’s account with the background check service was closed for suspected fraud. Hooper and Chalks enlisted an unindicted co-conspirator to regain access. Under directions from Hooper and with the promise of $2,500 for each month an account was opened, the co-conspirator tried to open an account. Despite Hooper creating fake documents to try to verify the account, the company decided not to open it.

Hooper and Chalk are scheduled to be sentenced July 24 by U.S. District Judge Jennifer L. Thurston in federal court in Fresno. They face a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and a fine of $250,000 for a conspiracy conviction. Hooper faces additional penalties in pleading guilty to wire fraud and identity theft.