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Apparently crime does pay.

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  • #1

    Apparently crime does pay.

    http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,510577,00.html

    Originally posted by TFA
    The charges against Walker — who used the online name "AKILL" and wrote so-called botnet infiltration programs for the crime network — were dismissed and he was released without a criminal record after paying a fine and forfeiting cash paid by the criminal group for his expertise.
    I hope I'm not the only one thoroughly disgusted by this. How could you possibly trust someone like this after what he did? IMO, all this does is just lead other hackers to follow his path in the hopes of committing crimes and then getting high paying jobs.
    A third party security audit is the IT equivalent of a colonoscopy. It's long, intrusive, very uncomfortable, and when it's done, you'll have seen things you really didn't want to see, and you'll never forget that you've had one.
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  • #2
    Re: Apparently crime does pay.

    There really is a thin line between criminal and "savvy" apparently.

    Comment

    • #3
      Re: Apparently crime does pay.

      Originally posted by streaker69 View Post
      I hope I'm not the only one thoroughly disgusted by this. How could you possibly trust someone like this after what he did? IMO, all this does is just lead other hackers to follow his path in the hopes of committing crimes and then getting high paying jobs.
      Notice this phrase: "after paying a fine and forfeiting cash paid by the criminal group for his expertise."

      This type of action is very common with young and/or first time defendants of non-violent crimes. It's call "court diversion" or something similar. There is a probation period, during which the defendant can't be charged with any other crime. If they successfully complete the all terms of the diversion, which here apparently included a fine and forfeiting his profits, the record is expunged. Otherwise all charges are reinstated.
      Thorn
      "If you can't be a good example, then you'll just have to be a horrible warning." - Catherine Aird

      Comment

      • #4
        Re: Apparently crime does pay.

        ^^Thorn clicked submit first. Hah.

        I believe his age might have something to do with it...

        Although it is frustrating that the rest of us working through legitimate means may never see a salary similar to his.

        I would like to also address the curiosity that we really don't know WHAT he makes. Telstra could have simply offered him 30,000 a year to basically be their pet 'speaker' to executives, using his age and criminal activity for a shock factor in hitting the message home. 30,000 a year to a kid without a degree is a big headstart, yea, but if he never goes to college he'll peak around 50k or so...

        Anyone know about past cases where this has happened, and potentially how much the contract they were offered was for? I can imagine a scenario that involves a corporation like Telstra swaying the judge's decision to basically acquire a low-wage information monkey for their company. If I was faced with 5 years hard time or no time, no record, and agreed to a 3 year contract with a security company at 20,000 a year, I'd take the contract.

        Comment

        • #5
          Re: Apparently crime does pay.

          Originally posted by hinges View Post

          Anyone know about past cases where this has happened, and potentially how much the contract they were offered was for? I can imagine a scenario that involves a corporation like Telstra swaying the judge's decision to basically acquire a low-wage information monkey for their company. If I was faced with 5 years hard time or no time, no record, and agreed to a 3 year contract with a security company at 20,000 a year, I'd take the contract.
          But the point is, he technically hasn't been punished for his crimes. Oh he paid a fine, oh he's on probation, and he had to give back his illgotten booty, big deal.

          Thorn:

          I understand that it was plea-bargained, but I'm not a big fan of plea-bargaining either.
          A third party security audit is the IT equivalent of a colonoscopy. It's long, intrusive, very uncomfortable, and when it's done, you'll have seen things you really didn't want to see, and you'll never forget that you've had one.

          Comment

          • #6
            Re: Apparently crime does pay.

            Originally posted by hinges View Post
            ... but if he never goes to college he'll peak around 50k or so...
            I find it really sad that this kind of thinking is accepted as the norm. Boy, talk about a sheeple statement.

            Originally posted by hinges View Post
            Anyone know about past cases where this has happened, and potentially how much the contract they were offered was for? I can imagine a scenario that involves a corporation like Telstra swaying the judge's decision to basically acquire a low-wage information monkey for their company. If I was faced with 5 years hard time or no time, no record, and agreed to a 3 year contract with a security company at 20,000 a year, I'd take the contract.
            I don't know about New Zealand, but it really doesn't happen that way in the US. Criminal court is comprised of the state prosecuting and the defense. Now, a corporation could pay for the defendant's legal costs, and part of the plea for leniency could be that he has obtained a job, but it would be rather rare. US criminal judges usually don't like to hear from third parties if they don't have a direct interest. Even if someone is the victim in case, third parties are strongly discouraged from participating directly.
            Thorn
            "If you can't be a good example, then you'll just have to be a horrible warning." - Catherine Aird

            Comment

            • #7
              Re: Apparently crime does pay.

              Originally posted by streaker69 View Post
              But the point is, he technically hasn't been punished for his crimes. Oh he paid a fine, oh he's on probation, and he had to give back his illgotten booty, big deal.

              Thorn:

              I understand that it was plea-bargained, but I'm not a big fan of plea-bargaining either.
              You may not like it, but diversion is the way many courts work with non-violent crimes and first offenders. It's cheaper than going through a full court docket and generally has a lower recidivism rate.

              BTW, diversion programs are not plea bargaining per se. Rather it's more akin to an "alternate court track" where no criminal record is issued if all conditions are met. Diversion tends to be a one-shot deal.

              Plea bargaining is when the defendant enters a plea of guilty to a crime in exchanged for a reduced sentence. A criminal record still results. The advantage is that the defendant forfeits a trial where the evidence indicates the likelihood of a conviction, the prosecution can argue for a greater penaly, and a judge may likely grant the prosecution's wish.
              Thorn
              "If you can't be a good example, then you'll just have to be a horrible warning." - Catherine Aird

              Comment

              • #8
                Re: Apparently crime does pay.

                The numbers differ slightly by jurisdiction, but <10% of cases ever go to trial. The courts would be swamped even more so if just a few more percent went to trial.
                "\x74\x68\x65\x70\x72\x65\x7a\x39\x38";

                Comment

                • #9
                  Re: Apparently crime does pay.

                  Originally posted by Thorn View Post
                  Notice this phrase: "after paying a fine and forfeiting cash paid by the criminal group for his expertise."

                  This type of action is very common with young and/or first time defendants of non-violent crimes. It's call "court diversion" or something similar. There is a probation period, during which the defendant can't be charged with any other crime. If they successfully complete the all terms of the diversion, which here apparently included a fine and forfeiting his profits, the record is expunged. Otherwise all charges are reinstated.
                  I can attest. I was arrested and got a Defer to Judification on my record. Basically, stay out of trouble for X days and your free with "no record."

                  Unfortunately, the no record thing was bs but it wasn't a big ordeal on why I was arrested in the first place.
                  Saving the world one computer at a time...

                  or possibly destroying, I haven't figured that out yet.

                  Comment

                  • #10
                    Re: Apparently crime does pay.

                    Originally posted by b0n3z View Post
                    I can attest. I was arrested and got a Defer to Judification on my record. Basically, stay out of trouble for X days and your free with "no record."

                    Unfortunately, the no record thing was bs but it wasn't a big ordeal on why I was arrested in the first place.
                    You usually have to pay a lawyer to go back to the court after you're off probation to make sure its closed out and actually off your record. If you expect the courts to do it..well, you've got more faith in them than I do :)

                    I return whatever i wish . Its called FREEDOWM OF RANDOMNESS IN A HECK . CLUSTERED DEFEATED CORn FORUM . Welcome to me

                    Comment

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