+=========+=================================================+===========+ | F.Y.I. |Newsnote from the Electronic Frontier Foundation |July 9,1992| +=========+=================================================+===========+ FEDERAL HACKING INDICTMENTS ISSUED AGAINST FIVE IN NEW YORK CITY Yesterday, Federal officials indicted five people in New York City for computer crime. The indictments name Mark Abene (Phiber Optik), Julio Fernandez (Outlaw), John Lee (Corrupt), Elias Ladopoulos (Acid Phreak), and Paul Stria (Scorpion). The indictments charge that the accused used their computers to access credit bureaus, other computer systems, and make free long-distance calls. Prosecutors revealed they relied on court-approved wiretaps to obtain much of the evidence for their multiple-count indictment for wire fraud, illegal wiretapping and conspiracy. Each count is punishable by up to 5 years in prison. The defendants are scheduled to be arraigned in Manhattan Federal Court on July 16. If found guilty on all counts the defendants could face a maximum term of 50 years in prison and fines of $2.5 million. Otto Obermaier, U.S. Attorney, discounted suggestions that the acts alleged in the indictment were only "pranks" and asserted that they represented "the crime of the future." He also stated that one purpose of the indictment was to send a message that "this kind of conduct will not be tolerated." Mark Abene, known to the computer community as Phiber Optik, denied any wrongdoing. The Electronic Frontier Foundation's staff counsel in Cambridge, Mike Godwin is carefully reviewing the indictments. Mitchell Kapor, EFF President, stated today that: "EFF's position on unauthorized access to computer systems is, and has always been, that it is wrong." "Nevertheless," Kapor continued, "we have on previous occasions discovered that allegations contained in Federal indictments can also be wrong, and that civil liberties can be easily infringed in the information age. Because of this, we will be examining this case closely to establish the facts." +=====+===================================================+=============+ | EFF |155 Second Street, Cambridge MA 02141 (617)864-0665| eff@eff.org | +=====+===================================================+=============+ :