Anonymous Hackers Plead Guilty In PayPal Hack, Says DoJ

The Department of Justice announced today that thirteen members of the hacker collective Anonymous have pled guilty to involvement in a PayPal cyberattack. The cyberattack took place back in 2010, and happened in the form of a Distributed Denial of Service attack. This is the latest of several prosecutions and legal proceedings that have taken place this year.

The thirteen members are comprised of: Joshua John Covelli, who was known as Toxic and Absolem; Christopher Wayne Cooper, who was known as Anthrophobic; Mercedes Renee Haefer, known as MMMM and No; Keith Wilson Downey; Donald Husband, known as Ananon; Ethan Miles; James C. Murphy, Christopher Quang Vo, Tracy Ann Valenzuela; Daniel Sullivan; Drew Alan Phillips, known as Drewo10; Jeffrey Puglisi, known as Jeffer, and Vincent Charles Kershaw, known as Triv.

One of these defendants, who wasn't specified, also plead guilty to charges from a different cyberattack said to have taken place on the Santa Cruz County website. For now, all thirteen of the defendants have been released on bond, with the sentencing hearing scheduled to take place on December 4 in San Jose. The exception is Tracy Ann Valenzuela, who won't be sentenced until November 20, 2014.

These individuals were charged with their crimes back in early October, and range from 16 to 65 years old. At the time, it was reported that other attacks had also taken place, including ones against Mastercard, Visa, Bank of America, and the Library of Congress. The hackers had said of one attack: "This will be a calm, coordinated display of blood. We will not be merciful."

SOURCE: LA Times