Hackett racks up more than $36 million in fraudulent charges

26-year-old Rogelio Hackett Jr. has pleaded guilty to trafficking in counterfeit credit cards and aggravated identity theft.

According to the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), more than 675,000 stolen credit card numbers were seized when agents executed a search warrant of Hackett’s residence in 2009.

The cybercriminal began trafficking in counterfeit credit card numbers in 2002, which he obtained either by hacking into business computer networks and downloading credit card databases, or purchasing the information from various online "carding forums."

Hackett also admitted to selling credit card information, manufacturing and selling counterfeit plastic cards and then using the information to acquire gift cards as well as merchandise.

Unsurprisingly, credit card companies have identified tens of thousands of fraudulent transactions using the card numbers found in Hackett’s possession, which weighed in at a grand total of more than $36 million.

Hackett faces maximum penalties of 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine, or twice the gross gain or loss, on the access device fraud charge, and an additional mandatory two years in prison, along with a $250,000 fine on the identity theft charge.

Sentencing is scheduled for July 22, 2011.