Teenager Arrested for Casino Cyberattacks Released Under Strict Conditions
Teenager Released Following Involvement in Major Casino Cyberattacks
A teenager connected to the 2023 cyberattacks that disrupted two leading gaming and hospitality companies in Las Vegas was released by a court on Wednesday. These attacks caused significant outages, ranging from several days to over a week at the worst affected properties.
Arrest and Detention Details
The 17-year-old surrendered to authorities on September 17 and was held at the Clark County Juvenile Detention Center. Prosecutors had pushed for the teenager to be tried as an adult due to the gravity of the offenses.
Involvement with Notorious Hacker Group
The youth is suspected of collaborating with the Scattered Spider hacking collective, a notorious and effective group also identified by aliases such as Octo Tempest, UNC3944, and 0ktapus. This group targeted the gaming giants MGM Resorts International and Caesars Entertainment during cyberattacks in August and October 2023.
While the casino companies were not expressly named in court documents, the timeline aligns with these incidents. Authorities believe the teenager still controls approximately $1.8 million in Bitcoin obtained from the hacking activities, along with access to the personal information of about 65,000 American citizens.
Court Proceedings and Restrictions Upon Release
Clark County’s Chief Deputy District Attorney Summer Clarke argued for extended detention, emphasizing the suspect’s sophisticated capabilities and potential ongoing access to sensitive data.
Despite these concerns, Family Court Judge Dee Smart Butler ruled in favor of releasing the teen to his parents. The court imposed strict conditions, including a complete ban on the use of electronic devices unless supervised by a parent or necessary for schoolwork.
To ensure oversight, the judge also mandated that the teenager and his family, including his grandmother, stay in a rental property within Clark County and remain under investigator supervision.
Potential Consequences
The teenager faces multiple felony charges, carrying the possibility of up to 15 years in prison if convicted. His legal defense highlighted his clean record and noted that he was only 15 years old when the alleged crimes occurred.
