Miami Man Indicted for Thieving Data from 130 Million Credit Cards

In what looks like the largest crime of its type, Albert Gonzalez, a 28-year-old Miami man, was indicted on charges of hacking into computer networks and stealing information from more than 130 million credit and debit card accounts. Gonzalez -- who also goes by the hacker names "segvec," "soupnazi," and "j4guar17"...

By Kyle Munzenrieder

August 17, 2009

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In what looks like the largest crime of its type, Albert Gonzalez, a 28-year-old Miami man, was indicted on charges of hacking into computer networks and stealing information from more than 130 million credit and debit card accounts.

Gonzalez -- who also goes by the hacker names "segvec," "soupnazi," and "j4guar17" -- and two unnmaed co-conspirators used a complicated technique known as an "SQL injection attack" that hacks into computer networks and steals credit and debit card information. Among the companies Gonzalez targeted were Heartland Payment Systems, a card payment processor; 7-Eleven Inc.; and Hannaford Brothers Co.

The Department of Justice says it's the "largest alleged credit and debit card data breach ever charged in the United States" and that the crimes go back to October 2006.

Gonzalez could face up to 20 years in jail on the wire fraud charges, an additional five years for conspiracy charges, and fines up to $250,000 with each charge.

Gonzalez was previously charged this past May for hacking into the computer network of a national restaurant chain. He is in federal custody.

Kyle Munzenrieder

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