The self-described hacktivist receives the maximum sentence for his role in the massive 2011 Stratfor hack. November 15, 2013 11:18 AM PST Hacker Jeremy Hammond was sentenced to 10 years in prison on Friday for hacking into private intelligence firm Strategic Forecasting in December 2011. The self-described hacktivist plead guilty to conspiracy to engage in computer hacking back in May for his role in the massive Stratfor hack. During the hack more 200GB worth of data, including e-mails and credit card information, was stolen from companies and government agencies like the US Army, the Department of Defense, Lockheed Martin, Dow Chemical, Coca Cola, and Bank of America. "Yes I broke the law, but I believe sometimes laws must be broken in order to make room for change," Hammond said in his sentencing statement, according to the Associated Press. He added, "I still believe in hacktivism as a form of civil disobedience." Supporters of Hammond had hoped for a shorter sentence time. More than 250 letters were submitted to the US District Court for the Southern District of New York expressing support for Hammond and more than 4,000 signed an online petition asking that he be sentenced for time served. The Electronic Frontier Foundation, which also submitted a letter to the Court, said ordering the maximum sentence of 10 years was too harsh. "We've very disappointed," said Hanni Fakhoury, a staff attorney for the EFF, in a statement to CNET. "We think 10 years is way too long." Hammond, 28, was arrested along with several other hackers in March 2012 after being exposed by Hector Xavier Monsegur, aka "Sabu," leader of hacking team Lulzsec. While the authorities were going after hackers in the Lulzsec hacking group at the time, they also picked up Hammond who was part of an Anonymous-affiliated hacktivist group called Antisec.
The self-described hacktivist receives the maximum sentence for his role in the massive 2011 Stratfor hack.
Hacker Jeremy Hammond was sentenced to 10 years in prison on Friday for hacking into private intelligence firm Strategic Forecasting in December 2011.
The self-described hacktivist plead guilty to conspiracy to engage in computer hacking back in May for his role in the massive Stratfor hack. During the hack more 200GB worth of data, including e-mails and credit card information, was stolen from companies and government agencies like the US Army, the Department of Defense, Lockheed Martin, Dow Chemical, Coca Cola, and Bank of America.
"Yes I broke the law, but I believe sometimes laws must be broken in order to make room for change," Hammond said in his sentencing statement, according to the Associated Press. He added, "I still believe in hacktivism as a form of civil disobedience."
Supporters of Hammond had hoped for a shorter sentence time. More than 250 letters were submitted to the US District Court for the Southern District of New York expressing support for Hammond and more than 4,000 signed an online petition asking that he be sentenced for time served. The Electronic Frontier Foundation, which also submitted a letter to the Court, said ordering the maximum sentence of 10 years was too harsh.
"We've very disappointed," said Hanni Fakhoury, a staff attorney for the EFF, in a statement to CNET. "We think 10 years is way too long."
Hammond, 28, was arrested along with several other hackers in March 2012 after being exposed by Hector Xavier Monsegur, aka "Sabu," leader of hacking team Lulzsec. While the authorities were going after hackers in the Lulzsec hacking group at the time, they also picked up Hammond who was part of an Anonymous-affiliated hacktivist group called Antisec.
