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'Sextortion' Hacker Gets 6 Years from LA Judge

By Stephanie Rabiner, Esq. on September 01, 2011 | Last updated on March 21, 2019

Though he faced a maximum of 10 years, "sextortion" hacker Luis Mijangos was sentenced to six years in jail on Thursday.

Mijangos, originally charged with extortion, pled guilty to computer hacking and wiretapping before Los Angeles U.S. District Judge George King. 

Investigators found that he had spied on at least 44 minors and 186 women, many of which he blackmailed into sending him sexually explicit photos and video.

Infecting hundreds of computers with a virus, Luis Mijangos, 32, was able to read emails and watch his victims through webcams, often using his access to trick women into taking nude photos by posing as their significant others.

He earned the name "sextortion hacker" because, once found out, he would threaten to post the nude photos online unless the victim sent more images.

He followed through with the threat at least once, notes the Associated Press.

It's unclear why the judge failed to impose the maximum sentence, even though the AP is reporting that he equated the crimes to cyber terrorism that caused great emotional distress.

The judge may have taken into consideration Mijango's record, and the fact that he chose not to use financial information that he collected from his victims.

The decision might also be representative of the nature of the crimes. They involved sex, but there was no physical contact, and he only followed through on one through.

Whatever the reason, "sextortion" hacker Luis Mijangos is going to be paying for his crimes for the rest of his life. Computer and sex convictions make it very difficult to find a job post-release.

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