NEWS BRIEF A British court approved Friday the extradition of alleged hacker Lauri Love to the United States, where he faces nearly a century in prison for hacking into U.S. government computers.
The Westminster Magistrates’ Court’s ruling, handed down by Judge Nina Tempia, approves Love’s extradition to the U.S., where he faces charges including hacking government agencies, conspiracy, and identity theft in New Jersey, New York, and Virginia. If convicted, he could serve up to 99 years in prison.
The 32-year-old native of Suffolk is accused of being involved in a series of Anonymous-affiliated hacks known collectively as #OpLastResort, in which the international hacking group infiltrated computers of U.S. government agencies, including the FBI, the U.S. Army, the Missile Defense Agency, and the Federal Reserve. U.S. authorities said his actions resulted in the release of employees’ person information and caused millions of dollars in damage.
Love, who has Asperger’s syndrome, warned that his mental health would pose a high risk of him committing suicide if he is sent to a U.S. prison—a move his lawyer, Tor Ekeland, said would “crush” his client.
“I accept Mr. Love suffers from both physical and mental health issues but I have found the medical facilities in the United States prison estate … are such that I can be satisfied his needs will be comprehensively met by the U.S. authorities,” Judge Tempia said in her decision.
