A 17-year-old hacker surrendered to face charges over cyberattacks targeting Vegas casinos in 2023, and a family court judge ruled that he will live in the custody of his parents.
The teenage boy, suspected to be part of the Scattered Spider threat group, now faces several restrictions. These include limited use of the internet, phone, and other electronics.
Although the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department did not name the casinos targeted, it explained that the attacks occurred between August and October 2023. Moreover, it described them as “sophisticated network intrusions” attributed to Scattered Spider.
During that period, Scattered Spider compromised the networks of MGM Resorts and Caesars Entertainment casinos and deployed the BlackCat/ALPHV ransomware.
As a result, the incidents caused significant operational disruptions and exposed sensitive data belonging to staff and customers. MGM lost more than $100 million in damages, while Caesars decided to pay a $15 million ransom.
Prosecutors claim the suspect still holds an estimated $1.8 million worth of Bitcoin cryptocurrency, although investigators have not recovered it. Therefore, they argued that the suspect should remain detained until the November hearing, citing his operational sophistication and massive financial gain.
However, the hacker’s lawyers called the detention request “disingenuous.” They pointed to the teen’s clean criminal record and requested a supervised release instead.
Family Court Judge Dee Smart Butler sided with the defense and ordered the release subject to the following restrictions:
- Live with parents at a registered address
- Cannot leave Clark County, Nevada
- Internet access strictly limited to educational purposes
- Restrictions on the use of phones and electronics
- Any violation of the above will result in immediate detention by probation officers
The charges the hacker currently faces include obtaining personally identifiable information for harm or impersonation, extortion, conspiracy to commit extortion, and unlawful computer acts.
In addition, prosecutors are seeking further charges and also want the hacker tried as an adult, which would lead to harsher, long-term imprisonment sentences.
Meanwhile, authorities also arrested another 17-year-old boy last year in connection with Scattered Spider cyberattacks. The court released him on bail pending investigation.
That boy faced suspicion of involvement in the MGM Resorts ransomware attack and membership in the Scattered Spider hacking collective.
Source: BleepingComputer, Bill Toulas
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