Rogelio Hackett Jr., Credit Card Hacking, Virginia 2011

Rogelio Hackett Jr., a 25-year-old from Lithonia, Ga., has been sentenced to 10 years in prison for hacking into credit card systems and stealing over 675,000 credit card numbers, resulting in $36 million in losses. Hackett was found guilty of trafficking in counterfeit credit cards and aggravated identity theft.

U.S. District Judge Anthony J. Trenga handed down the sentence in Alexandria, Va. on December 22, 2011. As part of his sentence, Hackett was also ordered to pay a $100,000 fine.

According to court documents, Hackett was caught in 2009 after U.S. Secret Service special agents executed a search warrant at his home and found the stolen credit card numbers in his computers and email accounts. Hackett admitted to trafficking in credit card information since at least 2002, obtaining it either by hacking into business computer networks or purchasing it from others on online forums.

These forums, known as "carding forums," are online discussion groups used by "carders" to traffic in credit card and other personal identifying information. Hackett admitted to selling credit card information, manufacturing counterfeit plastic cards, and using the information to acquire gift cards and merchandise.

As a result of Hackett's actions, credit card companies have identified tens of thousands of fraudulent transactions, totaling over $36 million. The case was investigated by the U.S. Secret Service and prosecuted by Michael J. Stawasz, a Senior Counsel for the Computer Crime and Intellectual Property Section of the Justice Department's Criminal Division and a Special Assistant U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia.

Hackett pleaded guilty to the charges on April 21, 2011 and was sentenced over eight months later. His sentence and fine are meant to serve as a deterrent to others who may be tempted to engage in identity theft.

The case highlights the devastating effects of identity theft on consumers and businesses alike. According to Assistant Attorney General Lanny A. Breuer, "Hacking and identity theft were a way of life for Mr. Hackett." U.S. Attorney Neil H. MacBride added, "Mr. Hackett was in the business of hacking for profit and committed identity theft on a massive scale."

Source: https://www.justice.gov/archives/opa/pr/hacker-sentenced-virginia-10-years-prison-stealing-675000-credit-card-numbers-leading-36