Hacker who helped feds gets no more time in prison

NEW YORK (AP) — A computer hacker who helped the government disrupt hundreds of cyberattacks on Congress, NASA and other sensitive targets and cripple the hacktivist crew known as Anonymous got a hero’s welcome Tuesday at his sentencing in federal court, where prosecutors hugged him after he was spared more prison time.

U.S. District Chief Judge Loretta A. Preska credited Hector Xavier Monsegur’s “extraordinary cooperation” before saying he won’t serve more than the seven months he spent in prison two years ago. Federal sentencing guidelines had called for more than 20 years in prison.