US sentences infamous hacker to 4 years in prison

By Michael Hernandez

WASHINGTON

The U.S. on Thursday sentenced to more than four years in prison a notorious Romanian hacker who targeted high-profile American politicians.

Marcel Lazar, 44, known online as Guccifer, was sentenced to 52 months in prison for unauthorized access of a protected computer and aggravated identity theft. He pleaded guilty May 25.

The Justice Department said Lazar admitted to hacking the social media and email accounts of about 100 Americans.

“In many instances, Lazar publically [sic] released his victims’ private email correspondence, medical and financial information and personal photographs, according to the statement of facts filed with his plea agreement,” the agency said in a statement.

He was extradited to the U.S. to face trial in March.

Guccifer gained infamy for hacking computers belonging to former President George W. Bush’s family and then Secretary of State Colin Powell.

But when he hacked an advisor to Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton he uncovered Clinton’s use of a private email server in contravention of department regulations during her time as Secretary of State.

The discovery has continued to dog the candidate as she struggles with public perceptions she is untrustworthy.

Lazar said earlier this year that he hacked Clinton's private server, but the FBI and prosecutors have denied the claim.