Forwarded From: Nelson Murilo <nelson@pangeia.com.br>
[http://dailynews.yahoo.com/headlines/ap/ap_us/story.html?s=3Dv/ap/19981201=/us/fugitive_hacker_2.html]
Tuesday December 1 4:19 AM ET
Computer Hacker on the Lam Again
LOS ANGELES (AP) - ``Agent Steal,'' a flamboyant computer hacker and
government informant who claims he helped put superhacker Kevin Mitnick in
jail, is on the run himself.
Justin Petersen is accused of skipping out on his probation in September.
Federal marshals have a warrant for his arrest.
The Daily News of Los Angeles reported Monday that a letter appeared on
Petersen's now-defunct Web site in which he claims to have found an
unspecified job overseas - but is thinking about coming home.
``I am still considering simply turning myself in and getting it over
with,'' he wrote. ``Regardless, if I happen to get apprehended, it will be
of little concern to me. Alas, rest assured I am somewhere having fun with
a nice-looking lady, enjoying the first freedom I have felt in some
time.''
Petersen, 38, a native of Lincoln, Neb., was known among hackers as
``Agent Steal.'' He had a reputation for hanging out at Sunset Strip
clubs, wearing his hair rock-star long and making the rounds with
attractive women. A motorcycle accident cost him his left leg below the
knee.
He was on probation after pleading guilty in 1993 to federal crimes
committed in California and Texas, including credit card fraud that
involved stealing data from a credit information firm.
He also admitted to helping other hackers rig a radio station promotion by
seizing control of telephone lines so they could be the winning callers.
Under a plea agreement, he remained out of prison while helping the
government in an ``undercover capacity,'' as one court document put it.
Petersen claimed the FBI paid his rent and flew him to computer
conferences to spy on other hackers.
He also says he helped show that Mitnick was committing offenses while on
probation for previous computer crimes. Mitnick, who faces trial in Los
Angeles in January, is the only hacker to make the FBI's most-wanted list.
He was arrested in 1995, accused of stealing 20,000 credit card numbers.
As for Petersen, prosecutors say at some point he hacked into the
computers of Glendale-based Heller Financial Inc. (NYSE:HF - news) and
paid himself $150,000, phoning in two bomb threats to make sure wire
transfer officers were away from their desks.
Petersen was sentenced to 41 months in prison for those crimes and others.
Court records show that he was accused this summer of violating his
release agreement, which ordered him to pay $40,000 and stay away from
computers except at work.
In his Web site letter, Petersen said he had a personality conflict with
his parole officer, who wanted him to take a full-time job to repay the
$40,000. The fugitive said ``for me that is physically impossible.''
-o-
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Received on Tue Dec 8 08:57:41 1998