Albert Gonzalez
One American and two Russian nationals are indicted for supposedly stealing more than 130 million credit and debit card numbers.
A prosecutor said late on Sunday that the three carried out the largest computer hacking and identity-theft caper in US history.
He said the 28-year-old American, Albert Gonzalez, believed to be one of the nation's cybercrime kingpins has been in federal custody in New York since May 2008 over hacking cases across Florida.
The two Russians, whose names were not revealed -- and were only identified as Hacker 1 and Hacker 2 -- were indicted in the federal district court in New Jersey on charges related to five corporate data breaches from 2006 to 2008.
Prosecutors said the three stole card numbers in those breaches from credit-card processor Heartland Payment Systems and retail chains 7-Eleven Inc. and Hannaford Brothers Co. The US attorney's office in New Jersey said they also targeted two other corporations, but declined to name those companies.
The Russians also targeted large corporations by scanning the Fortune 500's list and exploring corporate websites before setting out to identify vulnerabilities.
Each defendant could face up to 35 years in prison and large fines if convicted.
FTP/SME/MMN
A prosecutor said late on Sunday that the three carried out the largest computer hacking and identity-theft caper in US history.
He said the 28-year-old American, Albert Gonzalez, believed to be one of the nation's cybercrime kingpins has been in federal custody in New York since May 2008 over hacking cases across Florida.
The two Russians, whose names were not revealed -- and were only identified as Hacker 1 and Hacker 2 -- were indicted in the federal district court in New Jersey on charges related to five corporate data breaches from 2006 to 2008.
Prosecutors said the three stole card numbers in those breaches from credit-card processor Heartland Payment Systems and retail chains 7-Eleven Inc. and Hannaford Brothers Co. The US attorney's office in New Jersey said they also targeted two other corporations, but declined to name those companies.
The Russians also targeted large corporations by scanning the Fortune 500's list and exploring corporate websites before setting out to identify vulnerabilities.
Each defendant could face up to 35 years in prison and large fines if convicted.
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