Teens charged over MySpace blackmail

Social networking site MySpace.com has been the target of a blackmail attempt

Two US teenagers have been charged with attempted extortion and illegal computer access following an attempt to blackmail social networking site MySpace.com. 

Shaun Harrison, 18, and Saverio Mondelli, 19, both from Suffolk County, New York, are accused of threatening to reveal how to steal personal information from MySpace unless a ransom of $150,000 was paid.

Harrison and Mondelli were originally kicked off the site for stealing information from other MySpace users.

The pair were arrested in Los Angeles as part of a sting operation by the Electronic Crimes Task Force when they were hoping to collect the ransom. 

The combined prison sentence for both felony charges is more than four years. The preliminary hearing will be held on 5 June, following a plea of not guilty from both teenagers at this week's arraignment.

Bail was set at $35,000 by the Los Angeles Superior Court judge.