Legal hammer falls on two AOL hackers

Seven years in prison. That's the sentence for Michael Dolan, a 24-year-old hacker who has pleaded guilty to fraud and identity theft after spending years hacking his way across AOL's network.

Dolan was part of a group of hackers who used both software tools and social engineering tricks to steal AOL screen names, primarily through the use of malware-infected e-greeting cards forged to look like they were from legitimate companies. Dolan is said to have later used the stolen names to trick AOL users into giving up credit or debit card information and other personal data on a phony, phishing website, which were then poured into a six-figure shopping spree over the course of four years.

Dolan is just one of a group of six hackers being tried for the crimes. Another man allegedly involved in the "gang" named Keith Riedel was set to be sentenced yesterday but that sentence has not yet been made public. Commenting on the case, one of Riedel's friends (who is not involved in the trial) told me last night via instant message, "Dolan was the real criminal in this case, Keith just got persuaded into assisting Dolan accomplish the goals.... We're crossing our fingers."

According to prosecutors, Dolan and his crew stole some $400,000 from 250 victims during the phishing spree. (Dolan says the haul was only about $43,000, from 50 victims.) As well, per published reports, Dolan extended his dirty tricks during the trial, attempting to bribe one of the other defendants, asking his girlfriend to lie on his behalf, and threatening a witness in the case, which Dolan's attorney says are all due to his emotional distress following his father's suicide.

I'll update or follow-up this post as more information becomes available about Riedel and the rest of the accused facing trial and sentences.

UPDATE: Sentence for Riedel: Nine months house arrest, per the aforementioned source.