LOS ANGELES-A college student who was a member of a computer hacking group pleaded guilty yesterday to two federal charges of breaking into computers at Sony Pictures Entertainment.
Cody Krestinger, 24, of Tempe, Arizona, entered his plea to one count each of conspiracy and unauthorized impairment of a protected computer, said Assistant US Attorney Eric Vandevelde.
He faces up to 15 years in prison when he is scheduled to be sentenced July 26.
Authorities said Sony Pictures computers were compromised last year in late May and early June by a group known as Lulz Security, whose members anonymously claimed responsibility. The organisation had bragged of accessing more than 1 million accounts, but Sony, whose offices are in Culver City, California, later said about 37,500 users had personally identifiable information stolen. The breach caused more than $600,000 in damages.
