Nintendo Hacker Gary Bowser Completes 40 Month Sentence
Via NME
The Story
Gary Bowser, a Canadian member of the hacking group Team Xecuter, was released early from a 40 month United States prison sentence for selling devices that bypassed Nintendo's copy protection systems.
He had pleaded guilty in February 2022 to charges tied to Team Xecuter, which profited by selling modchips and custom firmware that let pirated games run on Nintendo consoles.
Bowser walked free on March 28, 2023 after serving just over a year, credited partly to good behavior, and was held in Washington while immigration authorities processed his return to Toronto.
His legal troubles are far from over, as he owes Nintendo roughly 10 million dollars in restitution and had paid only 175 dollars through 25 dollar monthly installments earned on prison wages.
Nintendo can garnish 25 to 30 percent of his gross monthly income going forward, and he has about six months before mandatory payments resume.
Bowser said he intends to stay out of trouble and hopes to earn a legitimate income managing Airbnb properties to chip away at the debt.
He had pleaded guilty in February 2022 to charges tied to Team Xecuter, which profited by selling modchips and custom firmware that let pirated games run on Nintendo consoles.
Bowser walked free on March 28, 2023 after serving just over a year, credited partly to good behavior, and was held in Washington while immigration authorities processed his return to Toronto.
His legal troubles are far from over, as he owes Nintendo roughly 10 million dollars in restitution and had paid only 175 dollars through 25 dollar monthly installments earned on prison wages.
Nintendo can garnish 25 to 30 percent of his gross monthly income going forward, and he has about six months before mandatory payments resume.
Bowser said he intends to stay out of trouble and hopes to earn a legitimate income managing Airbnb properties to chip away at the debt.
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