14 DAY TRIAL // 24-year-old Andrew James Miller, who admitted earlier this year to hacking and selling access to the systems of various US government and other high-profile organizations, has been sentenced to 18 months in prison. He will also have to pay a $25,000 (€18,000) fine.
According to the Boston Globe, the man, who lives with his parents in Pennsylvania, apologized for his actions. However, the judge has sentenced him to prison, arguing that he is concerned with the scope of his crimes.
In August, Miller pleaded guilty to conspiracy, damaging a computer, and obtaining information without authorization from a computer. At the time, he asked to be sentenced to probation.
However, prosecutors had asked for the 18-month prison sentence, which is the maximum as per the sentencing guidelines. On the other hand, the judge expressed his concern about the sentence being “too low,”
The man is said to have hacked into the computers of various law enforcement agencies, academic institutions, corporations, and government agencies such as the US Department of Energy. He was part of a hacker group called the “Underground Intelligence Agency.”
The defense argued that he was not such an important player in the scheme, and that he didn’t realize that his actions had serious consequences. Miller’s lawyers also noted that he was under treatment for mental health issues at the time.
However, federal prosecutors highlighted that he was fully aware of the fact that his actions, from which he made money, were against the law and that he could go to jail for them.
The man was first investigated for hacking when he was 14 years old. At the time, his case was referred to the juvenile system in Pennsylvania.