A 17-year-old hacker who surrendered to face charges over cyberattacks targeting Vegas casinos in 2023 has been released into the custody of his parents, a family court judge ruled.
The teenage boy, who is suspected to be part of the Scattered Spier threat group, has been imposed some restrictions that include limited use of the internet, phone, and electronics.
Although the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department did not name the casinos targeted, it noted that the attacks occurred between August and October 2023 and described them as "sophisticated network intrusions" attributed to Scattered Spider.
During that period, Scattered Spider compromised the network of MGM Resorts and Caesars Entertainment casinos. and deployed the BlackCat/ALPHV ransomware.
The incidents caused significant operational disruptions and compromised sensitive data belonging to staff and customers. They cost MGM more than $100 million in damages, while Caesars paid a $15 million ransom.
The prosecutors believe the suspect is still holding an estimated $1.8 million worth of Bitcoin cryptocurrency but it hasn't been found yet. They argued that the suspect should remain detained until the hearing in November, on grounds of his operational sophistication and massive financial gain.
The hacker’s lawyers characterized the detention request as “disingenuous,” highlighting the teen’s clean criminal recor and requesting a supervised release.
Family Court Judge Dee Smart Butler sided with the defense and ordered the release subject to the following restrictions:
Live with parents on a registered address
Cannot leave Clark County, Nevada
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