An American hacker, who is a former federal informant and a member of a driving force behind a large case of identity theft in the history of the United States, pleaded guilty after a deal with prosecutors Friday.
Twenty-eight year old Albert Gonzales of Miami admitted to invading computer systems of large retail companies such as Barnes & Noble, Sports Authority, BJ's Wholesale Club, Boston Market, OfficeMax and TJX Cos. Federal authorities claimed that millions of debts and credit card numbers were hacked from the said retailers.
Albert Gonzales’ guilty pleas at a Boston’s US District Court included computer fraud, 19 counts of conspiracy, access device fraud, identity theft and wire fraud. Gonzales was also guilty of one count of conspiracy at an indictment charging in New York for committing wire fraud hacks into the restaurant chain, Dave & Buster’s.
Under the plea agreements, Gonzales would be facing the Massachusetts case with 15 to 25 years, and the New York case with at least 20 years imprisonment. Gonzales’ sentences would run concurrently, and if he would be convicted with all the charges and have maximum sentence, he could be imprisoned for several hundreds of years.
Albert Gonzales’ sentencing is scheduled on 8 December. In addition, federal authorities claimed that he was a ringleader of an unknown group that is focused on targeting large retail companies.
Rene Palomino, Gonzales’ attorney, said that his client was “extremely remorseful”.
Twenty-eight year old Albert Gonzales of Miami admitted to invading computer systems of large retail companies such as Barnes & Noble, Sports Authority, BJ's Wholesale Club, Boston Market, OfficeMax and TJX Cos. Federal authorities claimed that millions of debts and credit card numbers were hacked from the said retailers.
Albert Gonzales’ guilty pleas at a Boston’s US District Court included computer fraud, 19 counts of conspiracy, access device fraud, identity theft and wire fraud. Gonzales was also guilty of one count of conspiracy at an indictment charging in New York for committing wire fraud hacks into the restaurant chain, Dave & Buster’s.
Under the plea agreements, Gonzales would be facing the Massachusetts case with 15 to 25 years, and the New York case with at least 20 years imprisonment. Gonzales’ sentences would run concurrently, and if he would be convicted with all the charges and have maximum sentence, he could be imprisoned for several hundreds of years.
Albert Gonzales’ sentencing is scheduled on 8 December. In addition, federal authorities claimed that he was a ringleader of an unknown group that is focused on targeting large retail companies.
Rene Palomino, Gonzales’ attorney, said that his client was “extremely remorseful”.
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