[whyenot]

That does not appear to be true. From the Ars Technica article on the case:

"Auernheimer then helped Spitler refine his script to harvest a large number of valid e-mail addresses of iPad 3G users, suggesting that a huge data set would be needed to "direct market iPad accessories" or start a "future massive phishing operation," noting that the data breach would be "huge media news."

[lawnchair_larry]

That is a joke. He is a troll. He makes satire videos and makes statements like that left and right. His security company was called "goatse security" and it was an ASCII picture of an anus.

This might be offensive, juvenile, or unfunny, but it's nothing remotely close to criminal. The feds took a private IRC log out of context and pasted it into the indictment.

This is not what the prison system exists for, and we are all worse off for using it this way.

[mootothemax]

If what he says is a joke, and he's a troll, then he's also an unreliable witness. Hence why a trial is unnecessary to find out the truth? Because how can one know that he's telling he real story now?

Really, if you confess to a crime, and then turn around and say "ha ha, only kidding!" don't be surprised if people find it hard to trust anything you say.

Note: I'm taking what you've said here at face value and otherwise know very little about this case.

[greenyoda]

But that article then goes on to say that they eventually chickened out and deleted the data without having sold it to anyone.

[rsingel]

Weev direct marketing iPad accessories? That's the funniest thing I've ever heard. Go read the IRC transcripts. It's so clearly a joke.