Jeremy Hammond Pleads Guilty to Stratfor Hack

[InfoSec News <alerts () infosecnews org>]

http://www.rollingstone.com/politics/news/jeremy-hammond-pleads-guilty-to-stratfor-hack-20130528

By JOHN KNEFEL
Rolling Stone
MAY 28, 2013

Jeremy Hammond pleaded guilty today to the infamous Stratfor hack, as 
well as taking responsibility for eight additional hacks of law 
enforcement and defense contractor websites in 2011 and 2012. As a 
condition of the plea, the radical hacker will face a maximum of 10 
years in federal prison, and restitution costs of up to $2.5 million. 
After Hammond entered his plea, his legal team framed his prosecution as 
part of the government's larger attempt to control the flow of 
information and punish those who seek to distribute it to journalists 
and the public.

"There's a war going on about corporate spying and access to 
information," said defense attorney Sarah Kunstler at a press conference 
immediately following the hearing. "Jeremy is someone who worked toward 
making information public."

In a statement posted online after the plea deal, Hammond echoed this 
point. "I did this because I believe people have a right to know what 
governments and corporations are doing behind closed doors," Hammond 
wrote. "I did what I believe is right."

Hammond entered his plea – admitting to one count of conspiracy to 
engage in computer hacking – in a federal courtroom in lower Manhattan, 
surrounded by observers and supporters. One of those in attendance was 
his twin brother, Jason, who had just flown in from Chicago. When 
Hammond initially addressed the judge, he raised his right hand to be 
sworn in, and clenched his fist in a symbol of defiance.

[...]

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