$180 Million fine for hacking Direc TV Signals

TAMPA, Fla. - A man who admitted scheming to steal satellite television signals has been ordered to pay $180 million in restitution in $500-a-month installments — a payment plan that would take 30,000 years to fulfill.

Steven Frazier, 28, pleaded guilty to conspiracy in a scheme to manufacture and sell devices to decode satellite TV signals and allow people to get premium service for free. He also received a five-year prison sentence.

The scheme was thwarted when federal agents arrested Frazier last fall.

A federal judge ordered restitution Wednesday based on a formula of how much Frazier's intended victims, DirecTV and EchoStar, would have lost had the scheme succeeded.

The companies estimate they could have lost $900 million. "We take this very seriously," said Larry Rissler, a DirecTV vice president.

Frazier's attorney, Kenton Sands, said his client is not expected to pay off the entire $180 million, but the installments will crimp his budget once he's out of prison.

Frazier, of Sacramento, Calif., was arrested in October by the FBI (news - web sites) and U.S. Customs agents in Dallas while he tried to board a flight to Mexico. Customs agents tracking his operations found computer chips and hacking gear in his luggage.

At the time, Frazier had about 5,000 customers lined up for the programming device he helped design and develop.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Tony Peluso said Frazier was regarded among the upper echelon of international satellite pirates. The case was heard in Tampa because the first people indicted resided in the area.

A 60 yr old guy here in town was arrested for the same thing. He requested a jury trial. Supposedly he has records that show City officials getting him to help them. Should make for a good case

i read that myself i feel sorry for the guy because since its a court order he can't even file for bankruptcy.

$500 a month for the rest of his life basicly is what he's gotta pay

$180 million Judgement is absurd in this case. If he had 5,000 customers at $100 each that's $500,000. What kind of assets does he have? If he has cash then they could get that, but $180 million is just a statement to prevent others from doing it.

Bettors:

Of course it's stupid. Can you imagine the conversation with his probation officer:

Ur, let's see now, about the matter of early termination, tell you what.. you pay your fine in full and we'll let you off probation in half the time... Now, you're anxious to get off probation, right? So whaddaya say, can you pay your fine off so I can get your paper cut?

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>but $180 million is just a statement to prevent others from doing it.<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

That is EXACTLY what they are saying.

Joey, sounds like you or someelse close to you has been through the Federal system

Sounds like the guys at DirectTV that came up with the estimate may have been the same ones that did accounting for Enron.

Castaway.. Good call.


Just thought about how the 18 month conversation might go. I can't cut your paper early, you have a fine.. Now if you pay your fine etc etc


JC

This is just another example of the absurdity of our judicial system. The judge had his head so far up his ass he can check out his own tonsils. Which is about par for the course.