Does Hacking Grades Warrant 20 Years in Jail?

While there have been many students who decided they would rather change their grades than come by them the usual way, the punishments for the most part have been pretty reasonable. However, the latest chapter in this type of behavior finds two culprits facing a $250,000 fine and 20 years in jail based on the number of charges leveled against them. "The guys have been charged with "unauthorized computer access, identity theft, conspiracy, and wire fraud." Obviously, these guys did a bad thing, but it's hard to see how the possible sentence matches with the crime. Of course, it seems unlikely that any judge would give them the maximum sentence, but even hearing that it's possible just for changing your grades seems ridiculous."

Comments

Re:Confusing The Issue

[twistedsymphony]

blockquoteOTOH, changing grades, while juvenile, is breaking into a system for purposes of committing fraud. It's technically no different than the guy who breaks into a computer system to produce a fake id or to alter financial records./blockquote Not if Ferris Bueller made me do it!

Re:Confusing The Issue

[msslc3]

Federal sentencing "guidelines" are both mandatory and very unfair in a large number of cases. But Congress has enacted them and the courts uphold the guidelines. District judges, who impose the sentences, often complain about the guidelines.

Re:Confusing The Issue

[GreyPoopon]

Having said that, 20 years is by far too much for something like this. Some murders don't do this.

And most likely the final sentence (as was already stated) will not be twenty years. If you want to compare to murder, since we only have the maximum sentence for these crimes, we'll have to compare to the maximum sentence for murder. Speaking from the experience of a member of my family who was shot in their home by a thief trying to pay for their drug habit, the list of charges were (roughly): breaking and entering, illegal possession of a concealed weapon without license, possession controlled substances, theft, and felony murder. The perpetrator received a life sentence, and was released from prison on parole after less than ten years. I would imagine that even if the maximum sentence is given, the perpetrators will be eligible for parole in five years or less.