Attorneys at Almeida Law Group are investigating whether a class action lawsuit can be filed on behalf of individuals affected by a possible Tommy Garner Air Conditioning Heating data breach. According to dark web monitoring sources, a hacker group calling itself thegentlemen claimed responsibility for a cyberattack on Tommy Garner Air Conditioning Heating in a post first observed in September 2026, alleging it had gained access to internal company systems. As of this writing, Tommy Garner Air Conditioning Heating has not issued a public confirmation of the incident, and the exact scope of any exposed data remains unknown. If you believe you were affected, contact Almeida Law Group.
About Tommy Garner Air Conditioning Heating
Tommy Garner Air Conditioning & Heating (Tommy Garner, Inc.) is a family-owned, Class A licensed HVAC contractor founded in 1986 by Tommy and Chrissy Garner in Newport News, Virginia. The company provides commercial and residential air conditioning, heating, generator installation and maintenance, water heater services, commercial refrigeration, and indoor air quality solutions across the Hampton Roads region. It employs approximately 35 people, holds Carrier Factory Authorized Dealer status with NATE-certified technicians, and was recognized as Virginia Peninsula Chamber Small Business of the Year in 2024.
What Happened?
Tommy Garner Air Conditioning Heating was listed on the dark-web leak site of The Gentlemen ransomware group, as tracked by Ransomware.live. The claim was first observed on September 30th, 2026. This is an unverified, attacker-side allegation only. Tommy Garner Air Conditioning Heating has not publicly confirmed any incident, and no regulatory filing, consumer notification, or independent corroborating source has been identified. No specific data types, data volumes, or number of affected individuals have been disclosed in connection with this claim.
The Gentlemen (also tracked as Storm-2697) is a financially motivated Ransomware-as-a-Service operation that emerged around mid-2025 and is linked to the Qilin ransomware lineage. The group follows a dual-extortion model involving both data theft and system encryption, deploying a Go-based locker that targets Windows, Linux, NAS, and BSD systems. As of August 2026, Bitsight reported The Gentlemen’s activity had increased by approximately 2,100% compared to its typical level, and a compromised command-and-control server revealed more than 1,570 linked victims globally. The group typically gains initial access through compromised credentials, phishing, or exposed remote access services. No independent source has corroborated this specific claim against Tommy Garner Air Conditioning Heating.
Key Facts at a Glance
- Company or Organization: Tommy Garner Air Conditioning Heating (Tommy Garner, Inc.)
- Industry: HVAC / Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning Services
- Location: Newport News, Virginia (serving the Hampton Roads region)
- Incident type: Ransomware leak-site allegation (dark-web claim; unverified)
- Litigation status: No litigation or class actions connected to this incident were found
- Source: Ransomware.live – Victim: Tommy Garner Air Conditioning Heating; GalaxyWarden – Tommy Garner Listed by The Gentlemen; Bitsight – The Gentlemen Threat Actor Profile
What Should You Do?
Even though this incident has not been confirmed by the company, it is a good idea to take precautionary steps if you have done business with Tommy Garner Air Conditioning Heating. Consider placing a fraud alert or credit freeze with the three major credit bureaus — Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion — to make it harder for anyone to open new accounts in your name. Review your credit reports for free at AnnualCreditReport.com and watch for unfamiliar accounts or charges. Monitor your existing financial accounts closely and report any suspicious activity to your bank or card issuer promptly. If identity theft occurs, report it at IdentityTheft.gov for a personalized recovery plan.
Your Legal Rights
If your personal information was involved in this breach, you may have legal rights depending on the facts of the incident and the law in your state. Almeida Law Group represents consumers in data breach and privacy litigation and can help you evaluate whether you may have a claim. Contact us at (708) 529-5418 or through our contact page for a free case evaluation.
