Hacker sentenced in Boston in 3rd case over theft of millions of credit and debit card numbers
By APFriday, March 26, 2010
Hacker sentenced in Boston in 3rd theft case
BOSTON — A federal judge in Boston has sentenced a computer hacker to 20 years and one day in prison in the last of three cases that prosecutors say involved one of the largest thefts of credit and debit card numbers in U.S. history.
The sentence imposed Friday on Albert Gonzalez will run concurrently with a 20-year sentence he received Thursday in two other cases. That means the 28-year-old Miami man will not have to serve any serve any significant additional prison time.
The one-time federal informant pleaded guilty in all three cases last fall. Friday’s sentence involved the theft of card numbers from Hannaford Bros. supermarket chain, 7-Eleven, and Heartland.
Prosecutors said Gonzalez led a group of professional hackers and identity thieves that sold stolen numbers and withdrew other people’s money from ATMs.
(This version CORRECTS to add 1 day on sentence))
