20
A computer hacker who pleaded guilty to helping run a global ring that stole tens of millions of payment card numbers was sentenced to 20 years on prison, the harshest sentence ever handed down for a computer crime in a U.S. court. Albert Gonzalez, a 28-year-old college dropout from Miami, had confessed to helping lead a ring that stole more than 40 million payment card numbers by breaking into retailers such as TJX Cos Inc, BJ’s Wholesale Club Inc. and Barnes & Noble. Gonzalez and conspirators around the world caused some $200 million in damages to those businesses, according to Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephen Heymann. Heymann said it was not possible to quantify how much money was stolen from individuals. Reuters
404
A Louisiana parish council is asking 404 companies that make money on community contracts whether they also buy insurance from an agency owned by former Jefferson Parish Administrator Tim Whitmer. Whitmer has been under investigation for allegedly using his position in the administration of former Jefferson Parish President Aaron Broussard to drive the insurance business of entities contracting with the parish to his firm, Lagniappe Industries, which is co-owned his wife, Dawn. The insurance scandal led federal authorities, the media and parish investigators into a web of political connections and potentially unethical behavior in Broussard’s administration. Broussard and two of his closest aides resigned, an assistant parish attorney was suspended, and the government eliminated the jobs of three people on the parish payroll, including Broussard’s ex-wife, Karen Parker. AP
$22 Million
A jury decided Texas A&M University student Reed Vestal was texting while driving and caused a deadly wreck, and ordered him to pay $22 million in damages. The victim, Megan Small of Houston, was a senior at Baylor University and was driving to Waco when the November 2007 accident happened near Calvert. The investigation indicated a vehicle driven by Vestal crossed the center line and struck Small’s vehicle head-on. Phone records indicated Vestal sent and received 15 texts and made seven calls in the 45 minutes before the wreck. The damages will be shared with Small’s friend Laura Gleffe, who was driving another car that rolled during the crash. AP
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