United States v. Watt

SENTENCING MEMORANDUM

GERTNER, District Judge.

This case concerns what is reported to be the largest conspiracy to commit identity theft in American history. The defendant, Stephen Watt (“Watt”), played a unique role in the conspiracy, unique, that is, for run of the mill fraud crimes before the advent of the Internet. He adapted certain software that enabled the principals of the conspiracy to extract information from a number of companies, but he received no money for his work. He did it for the challenge, for the thrill of besting large institutions. But whatever the motive, however…