The United States has now sentenced 28 year old, Albert Gonzalez to two 20 years sentences and the judge added on 24 years that he will serve concurrently. At his trial last year, Gonzalez pleaded guilty to three counts of fraud. The judge inflicted extra years onto Gonzalez’s sentence due to the fact that the defendant was currently working as an informant for the US Secret Service making a considerable salary each year reported at $75,000 per year.
Gonzalez struck a plea agreement and agreed to return money estimated at 1 million dollars that he reportedly buried in his parents backyard. He is also is giving up a residence, automobile, jewelry and other valuable items. Suspicion arose around Gonzalez and in late August he was officially caught. The defendant had Russian co-conspirators, and the men are accused of hacking into retailer’s payment systems in over 250 companies in the United States.
Gonzalez and his coconspirators found weaknesses in the computer systems of large retailers and then used this to steal the identities of customers. Software weakness is a problem for many retailers and this is something that the trio took full advantage of. When Gonzalez was asked why he committed such crimes he said “curiosity and addiction”, were motivating factors.
This is one of the longest sentences handed down in US history and sends quite a message for future, potential hackers. This sentence clearly sends the message that the United States will be prosecuting this type of crime to the fullest.
