US hacker gets 20-year sentence

The hacker claimed he was addicted to the internet

A hacker has been sentenced to 20 years in prison after one of the largest thefts of credit and debit card numbers in US history.

Albert Gonzalez co-ordinated attacks on TJ Maxx and other retailers, stealing more than 40 million credit card account numbers during a five-year crime spree.

Gonzalez, a one-time federal informant, also stole the personal codes that made the credit card details usable, and resold them internationally using internet chatrooms.

Prosecutors claim that Gonzalez cost banks and their insurers as much as $200m (£132m) and led a group of professional hackers and identity thieves.

The group sold stolen bank details and withdrew other people's money from ATMs. The prosecution fought for the landmark sentence because of the extent of the damage and to deter other hackers.

Gonzalez’ defence team blamed the thefts on his Asperger's syndrome, a form of autism, and claimed that he was addicted to the internet.

He was also found to have buried $1m cash in the backyard of his parents' home and explained that his crimes got out of control "because of my inability to stop my pursuit of [my] addiction."

As well as stealing details from TJ Maxx, Gonzalez also targeted US retailers 7-Eleven and Heartland, and supermarket chain Hannaford Bros. He has also been fined $25,000.