SEC hacker counters prosecutors with 366-day sentencing recommendation
Summary
Defense lawyers for Eric Council Jr. requested a sentence of no more than one year and one day in prison after his guilty plea for conspiracy to commit aggravated identity theft and access device fraud. Council was involved in a SIM swap attack that allowed him to post a fake message on the SEC's X account, falsely announcing regulatory approval for Bitcoin exchange-traded funds. Prosecutors are seeking a two-year sentence, citing that Council profited approximately $50,000 from similar fraudulent activities. The sentencing is scheduled for May 16. The case may be influenced by potential changes in leadership within the DC court district, following President Trump's announcement of Jeanine Pirro as the interim US attorney.
