News

TJX hacker gets 20 years for credit, debit breach

March 25, 2010

Help Net Security reports that Albert Gonzales, better known as the "TJX hacker," whose breach of TJX reportedly led to the loss of some $200 million through the compromise of more than 90 million debit and credit cards, has been sentenced to 20 years in prison after being found guilty of organizing a gang of cyber thieves to pull off the scam.

During the trial it was discovered that during the three years he ran this criminal operation, he also worked for the U.S. Secret Service — a job for which he was paid $75,000 a year to be an undercover informant.

After his arrest, the authorities took $1.1 million in cash Gonzales had hidden at his parents' home. They also took possession of Gonzales' Miami condo, a 2006 BMW, jewelry, Rolex watches, a gun and a currency counter.

Gonzales is waiting to be sentenced on charges that stemmed from his role in the breach of Heartland Payment Systems and 7-Eleven.