| Location |
 |
| Information |
After receiving a tip, Petersen was arrested in Texas in 1991. In an FBI affidavit, Petersen admitted to physically and electronically conducting illegal telephone taps and breaking into Pacific Bells COSMOS and other companies computer systems to check telephone numbers and determine the location of telephone lines and circuits. A grand jury in Texas returned an eight-count indictment, accusing Petersen of assuming false identities, accessing a computer without authorization, possessing stolen account IDs and fraudulently obtaining and using credit cards. Petersen also faced several other charges pertaining to national security: one charge regarded his supposed compilation and documentation of U.S. Federal Government wire taps of persons currently under surveillance.
Peterson was found dead in his Los Angeles apartment on March 12, 2010. |
| Informed on |
Kevin Poulsen, Ron Austin, Kevin Mitnick |
| Pending Outcome |
No |
| Damages Costs |
Unknown |
| Date Of Crime |
Unknown |
| Occupation |
IT
|
| Crime(s) |
Hacking
|
| Sector(s) |
Private equity
|
| Charge(s) |
Computer fraud
Conspiracy
intercepting wire communications
wrongfully accessing TRW credit files
|
| Authorities |
FBI
Secret Service
|
| Authorities Statement |
view |
| Lawyers |
Jeremy Schneider
|
| Prosecutors |
Schindler
Schindler
|
| Judges |
Sam Sparks
|
| Authorities Assist |
Yes |
| Authorities Assist Info |
Assisted the FBI in building cases against Kevin Poulsen, Ron Austin, Kevin Mitnick, and many others.
Accused of being an paid informant and possibly also working for the CIA in or after his 1995 conviction. |
| Sentenced |
Yes |
| Sentenced Date |
1995-11-01 |
| Sentenced Information |
41 months 3.4 years in U.S. federal prison and three years of probation |
| Sentenced Jail |
Yes |
| Sentenced Months |
41 |
| Sentenced Probation |
Yes |
| Sentenced Probation Months |
|
| Fined |
Yes |
| Fine Amount |
40000 |
| Paid Informant |
Yes |
