LOS ANGELES, June 28: The man who hacked email accounts of celebrities like Christina Aguilera and Scarlett Johansson should serve 71 months in prison and pay them about USD 150,000 in compensation, federal prosecutors have said.
Christopher Chaney, 35, who pleaded guilty in LA federal court to nine counts of computer hacking, hacked almost daily for two years into email accounts of 50 people in the entertainment industry, reported Los Angeles Times.
Prosecutors said Chaney took naked images of Aguilera from her stylist’s email account, Renee Olstead’s from her e-mail stream and Johansson’s from emails she sent to her then husband Ryan Reynolds. He forwarded them to another hacker and two celebrity websites, who made them public.
The federal court recommended only USD 7,500 for Aguilera who was also a victim when naked images were obtained by Chaney, whereas they say Johansson deserves USD 67,00 in compensation.
Aguilera’s less amount came about because although her email was hacked, she never had to deal with a website posting her nude photographs like Johansson.
However, the state’s attorney finds it unlikely, given his employment record, that the hacker will be able to repay any significant amount to the victims. Therefore, they are also asking for a high-end prison sentence of 71 months.
Chaney’s sentencing is scheduled for July 23. (PTI)
Trending Now
E-Paper
Follow our WhatsApp channel