Five Men Arrested in LexisNexis Data Theft

An anonymous reader writes "Five men aged 19-24 were arrested last week in connection with the reported theft last year of some 310,000 personal records from database giant LexisNexis. The Washington Post reports that some of the individuals were also involved in the theft and online posting of revealing photos from socialite Paris Hilton's cell phone. All are being charged with 'aggravated identity theft,' which carries a mandatory 2-year jail sentence for those found guilty."

Comments

Wait ...

[Sonic McTails]

Only a two year jail sentence? That seems extremely light, considering that once you have your identity stolen, it can easily take over two years to put everything back in order, especially if the guy who did it isn't caught. That's more like a slap on the wrist then a real punishment, and I don't see it as a deterrent in commiting in this crime.
 
Think about it, very few people who commit identify theft ever get caught, and in addition, you can make a lot of money or get a lot of free stuff while it lasts, and if you get busted, you're out in two years and you can do it all over again.

Meh.

[FatSean]

I think LexisNexis is more amoral and unethical than the hackers.

Identity theft or Digital Shoplifting?

[smokeslikeapoet]

I hardly believe they would have been arrested if they purchased the info from LexisNexis. This wasn't identity theft, it was digital shoplifting.

Re:Identity theft or Digital Shoplifting?

[wish bot]

It's not theft - it's COPYRIGHT INFRINGEMENT. Isn't that what we keep saying regarding copying of electronic data?

(only half joking).

let's be opportunistic

[scrambledhelix]

I hope to god someone cites these guys to congress as a reason *against* data retention legislation. It's not big brother we should be worried about, it's his jackass cousins...

Re:High Crimes and Misdemeanors

[Concerned Onlooker]

It's amazing how the scum always seems to rise back to the top. Sociopaths run the world.