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NEW YORK (AP) — The American computer hacker who shook the Internet underground by becoming an FBI informant didn't just break the law on the Web: He also carried a gun and was involved in drug dealing.
Court documents unsealed this week show that in exchange for his cooperation, federal prosecutors agreed not to prosecute hacker Hector Xavier Monsegur for a litany of other crimes he admitted committing over the years, including his attempted sale of a 1 pound (0.45 kilograms) of marijuana in 2010 and another 4 pounds (1.8 kilograms) in 2003.
They also agreed not to pursue charges for other crimes, including gun possession, purchasing stolen jewelry and electronics, running up $15,000 on a former employer's credit card and referring people seeking prescription pain pills to illegal drug suppliers. The court papers said Monsegur would also avoid prosecution for hacking into the website of an online casino.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/03/09/hector-xavier-monsegur_n_1334997.html
My question is, “Is this fair to the people who were victimized?” For example, the former employer who is out $15,000?
Let’s say you’re stopped at a red light and a drug dealer carjacks your automobile. He puts a gun in your face, drags you out of your car and takes it. The Police catch the guy but in return for him turning informant against his buddies they drop charges against him for the carjacking. In other words you’ve been pulled out of your car and your car stolen but you receive no justice. Is that fair?
If the government can make deals with criminals and forgo prosecution what prevents them from not prosecuting people who commit crimes against those the prosecutors don’t like? What about the “equal before the law” thingy? Is having information on crooks and thieves like having a “get out of jail free” card? One can steal and sell drugs and have an illegal weapon and …….. No problem as long as they know some decent mobsters or hackers they’ll be fine.
I suppose at the end of the day a good mobster friend is better than a good lawyer. A point to ponder.
Court documents unsealed this week show that in exchange for his cooperation, federal prosecutors agreed not to prosecute hacker Hector Xavier Monsegur for a litany of other crimes he admitted committing over the years, including his attempted sale of a 1 pound (0.45 kilograms) of marijuana in 2010 and another 4 pounds (1.8 kilograms) in 2003.
They also agreed not to pursue charges for other crimes, including gun possession, purchasing stolen jewelry and electronics, running up $15,000 on a former employer's credit card and referring people seeking prescription pain pills to illegal drug suppliers. The court papers said Monsegur would also avoid prosecution for hacking into the website of an online casino.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/03/09/hector-xavier-monsegur_n_1334997.html
My question is, “Is this fair to the people who were victimized?” For example, the former employer who is out $15,000?
Let’s say you’re stopped at a red light and a drug dealer carjacks your automobile. He puts a gun in your face, drags you out of your car and takes it. The Police catch the guy but in return for him turning informant against his buddies they drop charges against him for the carjacking. In other words you’ve been pulled out of your car and your car stolen but you receive no justice. Is that fair?
If the government can make deals with criminals and forgo prosecution what prevents them from not prosecuting people who commit crimes against those the prosecutors don’t like? What about the “equal before the law” thingy? Is having information on crooks and thieves like having a “get out of jail free” card? One can steal and sell drugs and have an illegal weapon and …….. No problem as long as they know some decent mobsters or hackers they’ll be fine.
I suppose at the end of the day a good mobster friend is better than a good lawyer. A point to ponder.
