EXTRADITED HACKER SENTENCED TO 10 YEARS IN FEDERAL PRISON FOR MASTERMINDING FIRST-EVER HACK INTO INTERNET PHONE NETWORKS

http://www.voip-weblog.com

This case is about the very first individual hacker that hacked VOIP service and reselling it for profit.Edwin Andrea Pena 27, penetrated the networks of internet phone providers and transmitted over 10 million minutes of unauthorized telephone calls over the victims's network and selling discounted service to his unsuspecting customers. he was able to offer at such low price because he hacked into the computer networks of suspecting VOIP providers, to route his customers'calls. 

Pena fled the United state in 2006 but the chase ended in 2009 when he got arrested in Mexico.Pena Pleaded guilty for computer hacking and wire fraud. United States Attorney Fishman stated: Theft is theft whether he robs a bank or a network and their services. Hackers should assume if they operate from shadow or other countries the law can not keep up with them.

      

Pena caused a loss of more than $1.4 million around one year for networked based company, moreover Pena admitted the help of others, including, Robert Moore who helped Pena for finding vulnerable network ports. 
Pena with the money that he got from this illegal business purchased real state, new cars, also a 40-foot motor boat under the name of someone else, except one car that the court executed a warrant for Pena's 2004 BMW M3. 
Pena was sentenced three years in the prison and in addition to prison time he also had to pay restitution in the amount of $1,012,311. 


My comment:
There are some points regarding to this case, Firs: as United States Attorney Fishman stated a person can steal and many other criminal activities through cyber-space without having physical existence at the place that he wants to commit a crime and the crime is more complicated to what it used to be, But the law is applicable in cyber space the same as real world. 
Second point  is when Pena fled to Mexico and he got arrested in there and then he was return to US for justice, this is because there is an agreement between tow countries regarding to the this case and similar ones that each side needs to send the person for justice to the country that he had caused damages. 


Source: "Federal Bureau of Investigation - The Newark Division: Department of Justice Press Release."Federal Bureau of Investigation - Newark - Homepage. Web. 02 Nov. 2010. .