TJX Hacker Makes Plea Deal, Faces 15 to 25 Years
Albert Gonzalez - the hacker accused of breaching Heartland Payment Systems - agreed Friday to plead guilty to conspiracy, wire fraud and aggravated identity theft in another high-profile case, the 2005 breach of TJX and other retailers. He will formally make his plea on Sept. 11.The 28-year-old Miami resident faces 15 to 25 years in prison under a plea agreement with federal prosecutors in Boston. Terms of the deal would require Gonzalez to forfeit $2.8 million, a Miami condo, a car and pricey jewelry. Gonzalez is accused of stealing 170 million credit and debit cards in all of his data breach crimes.
This plea deal will close the case against Gonzalez in Massachusetts, where he was charged with hacking into computer systems of TJX, Barnes and Noble and Office Max. The deal also includes a case in New York, where he was charged with hacking into the networks of Dave & Buster's restaurant chain.
Gonzalez still faces charges filed in New Jersey last week that allege he and two other unnamed defendants hacked into Heartland Payment Systems, grocer Hannaford Brothers and ATMs stationed in 7-11 convenience stores. Two other retailers, J.C. Penney and Target, also were included in the list of retail victims.
Gonzalez was arrested for the TJX hack in May 2008. He had previously worked as an informant for the U.S. Secret Service.
