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Max Ray ButlerA computer fraudster known in the hacker world under the nicknames I"ceman" and "Max Vision"
Country:
 USA |
Content:
- Max Vision: Notorious Computer Hacker
- The Sentencing
- The Investigation
- Previous Convictions
- The Early Hacking Years
- The Prison Sentence and Release
- The Return to Hacking
- The CardersMarket Website
- The Downfall
- The Future
Max Vision: Notorious Computer Hacker
The Arrest and ConvictionIn September 2007, computer hacker Max Ray Butler, also known as Max Ray Vision and Iceman, was taken into custody. Initially facing up to 60 years in prison, he significantly reduced his sentence by pleading guilty to all charges in June 2009.
The Sentencing
Butler was sentenced to 13 years in federal prison for hacking into computer networks and stealing credit card numbers. This marked the longest prison term imposed for hacking in the United States, potentially surpassed only by Albert Gonzalez, who awaits sentencing for his role in the theft of information on 170 million cards. In addition to his prison sentence, Butler was ordered to pay $27.5 million in restitution to banks and financial institutions.
The Investigation
Investigators found 1.8 million credit card numbers on Butler's home computers, with 1.1 million of them believed to have been directly acquired by him. Assuming a $25 cost to replace each stolen card, the court awarded restitution by multiplying 1.1 million by 25. Payment card companies traced transactions worth $86 million to Vision's card numbers. The hacker's actions affected 10,000 financial organizations and institutions.
Previous Convictions
Before his most recent arrest, Butler had a history of hacking and imprisonment. In 1991, he was sentenced to five years for threatening to kill a former girlfriend. After his release in 1995, he changed his surname from Butler to Vision and moved to San Francisco for a fresh start.
The Early Hacking Years
Vision worked as an IT security auditor, earning $100 per hour to hack into clients' websites and networks and report on their vulnerabilities. However, he also engaged in unauthorized network access. In 1998, he was arrested for exploiting a bug in the BIND program on numerous servers, gaining control of computers while leaving backdoors for himself.
The Prison Sentence and Release
In May 2001, Vision was sentenced to 1.5 years in federal prison at Taft. After his release in 2002, he entered a rehabilitation program and sought employment, offering his services for $6.75 per hour.
The Return to Hacking
Vision eventually resumed his unauthorized network access activities with an acquaintance from prison. During this period, he was under multiple years of post-release supervision by law enforcement.
The CardersMarket Website
According to Wired magazine, Vision's humanitarian beliefs led him to prioritize stealing credit card numbers, as banks ultimately bear the responsibility for fraudulent transactions. He became involved in carder forums and narrowly escaped a raid on the Shadowcrew by law enforcement.
Vision subsequently created CardersMarket, a platform for buying and selling credit card information. With the help of a Mongolian translator, he recruited six thousand members and obtained a large database of credit card data.
The Downfall
In late 2006, Vision stepped down from CardersMarket and enhanced his security measures. The FBI intensified its search for the website's founder. A tip from a U.S. Secret Service informant led to the arrest of Butler's acquaintance. A former associate also provided information, and another accomplice was apprehended. Even Vision's Mongolian translator was questioned. On September 5, 2007, Butler was arrested.
The Future
It remains uncertain what Butler will pursue upon his release from prison for the third time. However, given his past behavior, it is likely that he will face further challenges related to his hacking activities.
