DALLAS, TX — A reporter with connections to the hacking group Anonymous has been sentenced to five years after posting online links to stolen data.
Barrett Brown originally faced charges punishable by more than 100 years in prison, but the sentence was reduced after he pleaded guilty last year.
Brown, 33, became an advocate for Anonymous and was often interviewed about the group.
He was arrested after posting a link to data hacked from defence intelligence firm Stratfor.
In April he pleaded guilty to three charges, including obstruction of a police search, making internet threats and a charge related to his involvement in the sharing of the Stratfor data.
But according to the AFP news agency, in a statement written before Thursday’s hearing Mr Brown launched a staunch rebuttal of the case.
