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Albert Gonzalez pleads guilty to stealing 170 million credit card numbers

13 September 2009 18:29 by Andre "DVDBack23" Yoskowitz | 26 comments

Albert Gonzalez, the 28 year old hacker accused of stealing and reselling over 170 million credit and ATM card numbers, has pleaded guilty this week to identity theft, wire fraud, computer fraud and conspiracy among 20 counts.

Gonzalez will also forfeit his Miami condo, a 2006 BMW 330i, thousands of dollars in jewelry and $2.7 million USD in cash.

Sentencing is set for December 8th, and Gonzalez is expected to be given 20 years, the maximum for his charges.

The hacker stole the credit card numbers using sql injection and packet sniffer malware software to create backdoors into the corporate systems of retailer chains TJX Companies, BJ's Wholesale Club, OfficeMax, Boston Market, Barnes & Noble, Sports Authority and Dave & Buster's. Gonazalez and two other conspirators also used wardriving, hacking using accessible Wi-Fi in retail stores. One of the conspirators is 7-foot-tall Stephen Watt, a Morgan Stanley investment banker who wrote the sniffing programs.

The three hackers would then sell the numbers or encode the data onto magnetic strips of blank ATM cards, using them to withdraw thousands of dollars from ATM machines.

"Technology has forever changed the way we do business, virtually erasing geographic boundaries," U.S. Secret Service Director Mark Sullivan said after the guilty the plea. "However, this case demonstrates that even in the cyber world, there is no such thing as anonymity."

Despite pleading guilty in Massachusetts and New York, there are still charges pending in New Jersey, where Gonzalez is accused of stealing numbers from Hannaford Brothers, 7-Eleven and Heartland Payment Systems, a card payment processing company.

Permalink to this article | Topic: Lawsuits & Legislation

Sony ramps up anti-piracy efforts in South-East Asia (19 September 2009)

Man convicted for using Limewire to steal identities (12 August 2009)

Online music fraud 'gang' arrested (12 June 2009)

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Discuss this article!	There are more user comments available, read them here
Paladore (Junior Member) 13 September 2009 19:42
what a Edited by Moderator. i hope he gets max for that. greedy greedy Edited by Moderator. [ + quote] This message has been edited since posting. Last time this message was edited on 14 September 2009 8:52
Mysttic (Junior Member) 13 September 2009 20:14
Yea, he'll likely get less time than someone caught pirating music off the net, despite being a danger to both retailer and consumer. [ + quote]
Morreale (Member) 13 September 2009 20:55
*Quote:* Gonzalez will also forfeit his Miami condo, a 2006 BMW 330i, thousands of dollars in jewelry and $2.7 million USD in cash. Is this everything he has or just what they can grab? [ + quote]
21Q (Senior Member) 13 September 2009 21:25
War driving? That's not something you hear of too often anymore. [ + quote]
KillerBug (Senior Member) 14 September 2009 0:05
He'll probably get a deal to work for his former enemies...skill like that should not be waisted in prison. [ + quote]
Blackjax (Member) 14 September 2009 1:04
This guy looks like Richard Ramirez's little brother. Nightstalker Jr anyone? [ + quote]
Jugulator (Newbie) 14 September 2009 1:13
So... I've just been a victim of credit card theft. You guys won't believe how rejuvenating I am when I read this post! I'm even happier that he is getting some manly love! Way to go Edited by Moderator! I don't regret the money I lost just thinking of all the Edited by Moderator this guy will have to go through! [ + quote] This message has been edited since posting. Last time this message was edited on 14 September 2009 8:53
Josipher (Junior Member) 14 September 2009 3:58
*Originally posted by Jugulator:* So... I've just been a victim of credit card theft. You guys won't believe how rejuvenating I am when I read this post! I'm even happier that he is getting some manly love! Way to go Edited by Moderator! I don't regret the money I lost just thinking of all the Edited by Moderator this guy will have to go through! "hi pinata boi-whach u in here fo'?" "hacking peoples money using computer programs and encoding data on magnetic strips" "Edited by Moderator. listen here pretty boi why dont you turn around and face the wall.." hes gunna have some "respect" in jail thats 4 sure XD [ + quote] This message has been edited since posting. Last time this message was edited on 14 September 2009 8:53
KillerBug (Senior Member) 14 September 2009 5:09
I would not call this guy a Edited by Moderator...it takes balls to walk into a store with a fake credit card and try to buy something! [ + quote] This message has been edited since posting. Last time this message was edited on 14 September 2009 8:53
Josipher (Junior Member) 14 September 2009 5:14
oh id definitely disagree. that is if i were serving 50 years for murder in prison. youd be my b**** :P [ + quote]
KillerBug (Senior Member) 14 September 2009 5:29
*Originally posted by Josipher:* oh id definitely disagree. that is if i were serving 50 years for murder in prison. youd be my b**** :P Yeah, you might get caught and have to spend 50 years behind bars...and I would act with inteligence and never get cought to begin with...your hand can be your boyfriend. Current System: Windows 7 RC1, DFI M2RS, ATI 3870HD, Hauppauge WinTV-HVR-1600, Athlon 9950, 6GB Corsair DDR2, 3TB RAID 5, 750GB Raid-1, 500GB RAID-1, 640GB RAID-0 Boot, 3ware 9690SA, Adaptec 2610SA, Adaptec 1430SA, Intel Gigabit NIC (PCI), LG 20X Lightscribe DVDR, Coolmax 1200w Power Supply, Logitech G15(first edition), Logitech G5(Second Edition), modified dell poweredge 1800 server case. Overall configuration: Perfect chair, two 22" widescreens overhead, Logitech 5.1 Audio [ + quote]
Josherrr (Newbie) 14 September 2009 7:57
how did he get busted? [ + quote]
Josherrr (Newbie) 14 September 2009 8:03
*Originally posted by KillerBug:* I would not call this guy a pussy...it takes balls to walk into a store with a fake credit card and try to buy something! no it does not it is so ez if the transaction takes longer than it should you just need to bolt out of there... when the cleark starts making phone calls that is a clear signal that it is go time.. dont forget the vending machines at nice hotel's that take credit cards some vending machines sell ipods/zune's/cells all things that are ez to resell [ + quote]
Oner (Moderator) 14 September 2009 8:56
Alright people listen up. Please watch your language or at least be creative in being descriptive but not vulgar. Okay? 1 or 2 curses, eh okay...I would guess that most aD'ers are "adults" or close, but this thread was out of hand. Search > http://forums.afterdawn.com/search Rules > http://forums.afterdawn.com/thread_view.cfm/2487 Important Rule > http://forums.afterdawn.com/thread_view.cfm/380660 [ + quote] This message has been edited since posting. Last time this message was edited on 14 September 2009 8:57
Footie979 (Junior Member) 14 September 2009 9:52
When I first saw this headline, I thought, "Bush's goon Alberto Gonzales?" ;-) [ + quote]
atomicxl (Junior Member) 14 September 2009 10:44
They should charge this as 170 million charges of theft/robbery. That should at least be 20 years with no chance of parole. [ + quote]
Josipher (Junior Member) 14 September 2009 13:44
*Originally posted by Oner:* Alright people listen up. Please watch your language or at least be creative in being descriptive but not vulgar. Okay? 1 or 2 curses, eh okay...I would guess that most aD'ers are "adults" or close, but this thread was out of hand. lol i for one really am sorry :P i was trying to keep the cursing to a minimum but i didnt noticed i wrote p**** XD we'll take it down a notch m8 [ + quote]
stumpied (Junior Member) 14 September 2009 13:51
The part that wasn't mentioned in the article is that this guy was already caught once before for doing the same thing. He spent years working on the other side for the "good guys" and then once he was allowed to stop helping, went back to doing what made him all the money. Do you think they'll give him another chance? [ + quote] This message has been edited since posting. Last time this message was edited on 14 September 2009 13:53
DVDBack23 (Staff Member) 14 September 2009 14:51
*Originally posted by stumpied:* The part that wasn't mentioned in the article is that this guy was already caught once before for doing the same thing. He spent years working on the other side for the "good guys" and then once he was allowed to stop helping, went back to doing what made him all the money. Do you think they'll give him another chance? I've never read that, he was indicted before for his time in ShadowCrew but got out by providing evidence against others. Never read that he spent years on the "good side." [ + quote]
jezchrizt (Newbie) 14 September 2009 16:25
Hope he gets arse raped for the next twenty years.Not only a scumbag but a snitch as well. [ + quote] This message has been edited since posting. Last time this message was edited on 14 September 2009 16:29
stumpied (Junior Member) 14 September 2009 16:26
I may have over stated by saying "years", but he was working for the "good side". . . or so everyone thought. http://www.technewsworld.com/story/67894...&wlc=1252959692 http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/arti...6QmBZAD9A4S86O0 [ + quote] This message has been edited since posting. Last time this message was edited on 14 September 2009 16:28
DVDBack23 (Staff Member) 14 September 2009 16:56
*Originally posted by stumpied:* I may have over stated by saying "years", but he was working for the "good side". . . or so everyone thought. http://www.technewsworld.com/story/67894...&wlc=1252959692 http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/arti...A4S86O0 Stumpied, thanks for the links, very interesting information. Disgusting how he was an informant while stealing at the same time. [ + quote]
Pop_Smith (Senior Member) 14 September 2009 17:32
Apparently he must have not been very good at spoofing. While I'll probably never know, I'd think that they caught him due to a Mac Address or something he forgot to change because he's an idiot. He also could have been caught by an undercover informant who bought the CC's from him, which is the most likely scenario. However, I am glad he got caught. Now if only we could send the TJ Maxx (etc., etc.) IT man to some sort of "camp" to teach him to encrypt a Wi-Fi network with something better than WEP! Peace [ + quote]
KillerBug (Senior Member) 14 September 2009 23:56
They probably just sent cops to his house after he bolted from a store when trying to use a fake credit card. Stores have security cameras, so even when you get away, you don't get away with it...especialy if you are already known. I take back what I said, he does not have balls...and he is not inteligent...he is dumb as Paris Hilton. [ + quote]
kyo28 (Junior Member) 15 September 2009 4:16
Glad he got caught and he deserves to rot in jail for the rest of his life for his crimes. I've been the victim of credit card fraud in the past and I can assure you, it's not a happy feeling when you notice that all of a sudden 1.000 Euro is charged on your card for things you never ordered. I never use my card outside of the home and only used it on a hand-full of wellknown site like Amazon, using a firewall, Spybot and Symantec security ... and still it happened to me. Fortunately, the credit card company didn't debet my card for those fraudulent transactions and the case was immediately transmitted to specialized police force. But still, definitely not a fun thing to happen to you and guys like that deserve every punishment. [ + quote]
Josipher (Junior Member) 15 September 2009 5:31
*Originally posted by KillerBug:* They probably just sent cops to his house after he bolted from a store when trying to use a fake credit card. Stores have security cameras, so even when you get away, you don't get away with it...especialy if you are already known. I take back what I said, he does not have balls...and he is not inteligent...he is dumb as Paris Hilton. knew you'd come round eventually mate [ + quote]