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DraftKings hacker 'Snoopy' sentenced to 18 months in prison

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Why This Matters

The sentencing of 'Snoopy' highlights the ongoing threat of cyberattacks targeting online gaming and betting platforms, emphasizing the importance of robust security measures. It also underscores the significant financial and reputational risks companies face from account breaches and cybercrime operations. For consumers, this case serves as a reminder to strengthen account security to protect personal and financial information.

Key Takeaways

A 21-year-old using the alias "Snoopy" was sentenced to 18 months in prison for his role in hacking DraftKings accounts in the November 2022 cyberattack.

In December 2025, the man, Nathan Austad of Minnesota, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit computer intrusion, admitting that he and co-conspirators compromised 60,000 DraftKings user accounts.

During the attack, the hackers added payment methods under their control to 1,600 accounts and stole $600,000.

DraftKings is a fantasy sports and sports betting platform where users can build teams of real-world athletes and compete for cash prizes based on their performance in actual sporting events.

In November 2022, DraftKings disclosed that hackers accessed customer accounts through credential stuffing attacks that exploited weak passwords or reused login credentials.

At the time, DraftKings reported that less than $300,000 had been stolen from affected customers. A month later, the company disclosed that 67,995 customer accounts had been compromised in the attack.

In May 2023, U.S. authorities charged Joseph Garrison for his role in the scheme, accusing him and his co-conspirators of selling access to hacked DraftKings accounts through online marketplaces such as the “Goat Shop.”

In January 2024, prosecutors charged additional suspects for the cyberattack, including Kamerin Stokes ("TheMFNPlug") and Nathan Austad ("Snoopy").

Austad reportedly operated his own shop where he sold access to stolen accounts and also used other platforms for the same purpose.

“AUSTAD directly controlled and profited from his own shop, which was named after the character Snoopy from the Peanuts comic strip,” the U.S. Department of Justice says.

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