A U.S. jury has convicted a Russian man on charges related to a massive computer hack into American businesses to steal credit-card information.
The jury in Seattle federal court found Roman Seleznev guilty on 38 charges on August 25, including hacking and wire fraud. He faces up to 34 years in prison.
Federal prosecutors accused Seleznev of making millions by hacking into businesses and restaurants and selling credit card and other data on underground Internet forums.
Defense lawyers argued that prosecutors failed to make a solid link between the hacks and Seleznev, and they challenged the evidence taken from his laptop computer.
Seleznev’s arrest in 2014 in the Maldives by U.S. agents prompted an outcry in Russia, with the Foreign Ministry criticizing the detention as illegal and issuing a warning to all Russians to beware of potential U.S. detention.
He is the son of Valery Seleznev, an outspoken member of Russia's lower house of parliament and outspoken critic of U.S. policies.
