[Infowarrior] - TJX hacker pleads guilty in one case, gets 15-20

[Richard Forno]

(c/o DO)

<http://www.theregister.co.uk/2009/08/28/accused_tjx_hacker_accepts_plea/print.html 
 >

Accused TJX hacker faces 15 to 20
The largest (known) identity theft caper in US history
By Austin Modine
Posted in Crime, 28th August 2009 23:59 GMT

The hacker accused of orchestrating the largest-known identity theft  
in US history will serve between 15 to 25 years in prison under a plea  
deal filed Friday.

Albert "Segvec" Gonzalez is accused (http://www.theregister.co.uk/2009/08/17/heartland_payment_suspect/ 
) of leading a hacking circle that stole 130 million credit and debit  
card numbers from major retail chains like Barnes and Noble, T.J.  
Maxx, Sports Authority, and OfficeMax.

The former government informant agreed to plead guilty to 19 felony  
counts in Massachusetts by September 11. Court documents also indicate  
Gonzalez will plead guilty to a separate New York indictment accusing  
him of similar crimes that targeted 11 Dave & Buster's restaurants.

The deal does not cover a third indictment in New Jersey against  
Gonzalez related to the alleged theft of data from more than 130  
million credit card accounts from card payment processor Heartland  
Payment Systems and retailers Hannaford Brothers and 7-Eleven.

Gonzalez, who is already in jail, will also forfeit nearly $1.65m in  
cash, his Miami condominium, a 2006 BMW, laptop computers, three Rolex  
watches, and other items according to the filing.

Authorities said in court papers Gonzalez faces 15 to 25 years in  
prison under the deal.

The US Attorney's Office for the District of New Jersey stated the  
case is believed to constitute the largest hacking and identity theft  
case ever prosecuted by the US Department of Justice.