A man has been sentenced to nine years in federal prison for computer hacking and wire fraud in an identity theft ring case.
John Gordon Baden, 38, was sentenced Sept. 23 by U.S. District Court Judge Gonzalo Curiel, who ordered him to pay a $500 penalty assessment fee. Baden received three concurrent five-year prison terms on related offenses.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Sabrina Feve sought a 10-year sentence saying that the identities of 4,200 people were compromised.
Baden and others hacked into a mortgage broker firm and obtained mortgage applications with dates of birth, Social Security numbers, addresses and driver’s license information.
Before Baden fled to Mexico, he used other people’s credit cards for computer and smart phone purchases at Walmart and the Apple Store in Chula Vista, according to court records.
He was arrested Nov. 4, 2014, by Mexican authorities.
The FBI searched the Chula Vista house where Baden used to live and found a fake driver’s license number with Baden’s photo.
He also pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud and could have received 20 years.
Awaiting sentencing on Oct. 9 is Jason Ray Bailey, 39, of Chula Vista, who pleaded guilty to computer hacking and conspiracy to commit wire fraud.
Victor Alejandro Fernandez, 39, and Joel Nava, 38, are awaiting trial on the same charges and have pleaded not guilty.
Bailey, Fernandez and Nava all remain in the Metropolitan Correctional Center in San Diego.
