US Govt rewards Sabu with six-month sentencing delay

Former Lulzsec-head who became an FBI informant, Hector Xavier Monsegur — known online more popularly as Sabu — has had his court case delayed by six months, giving him a little freedom before facing what could be an extremely long time behind bars.

Court documents sighted by Wired reveal that the US Government submitted the request to the US Attorney, "in light of the defendant's ongoing cooperation with the government". Sabu's sentencing has now been adjourned until 22 February next year.

While that only gives him a window of six months, any time might be valued by him at this point, as unless he strikes some sort of deal, Sabu could potentially spent the rest of his life in prison. According to the FBI, he could face a maximum sentence of 124 years and six months for 12 offences he has already pleaded guilty to.

These inlcude three counts of computer hacking conspiracy, five counts of computer hacking, one count of computer hacking in furtherance of fraud, one count of conspiracy to commit access device fraud, one count of conspiracy to commit bank fraud and one count of aggravated identity theft.

More specifically, these charges cover the DDoS attacks on Visa, Mastercard and PayPal, and the intrusions at HBGary, Fox, PBS, Sony Pictures, Bethesda and Stratfor.