Fla. Man In Credit Card Data Theft Accepts Plea

TAMARA LUSH

MIAMI (AP) — A computer hacker accused of masterminding one of the largest cases of identity theft in U.S. history agreed Friday to plead guilty and serve up to 25 years in federal prison for his crimes.

Albert Gonzalez of Miami was charged with conspiracy, wire fraud and aggravated identity theft charges in federal courts in New York and Boston. Court documents filed in federal court in Boston indicate the 28-year-old Gonzalez agreed to plead guilty to 19 counts and combine the two cases in federal court in Massachusetts.

Additional charges against Gonzalez are still pending in New Jersey, but they are not currently part of the plea deal.

The Miami man is accused of swiping the credit and debit card numbers of more than 170 million accounts; officials said Gonzalez was the ringleader of a group that targeted large companies such as T.J. Maxx, Barnes and Noble, Sports Authority and OfficeMax, among others.

Gonzalez' Miami attorney, Rene Palomino Jr. declined comment Friday. He told The Associated Press on Thursday that his client was "extremely remorseful as to what has happened."