Nintendo Cracker Gary Bowzer Freed from Prison for Good Behavior
Gary Bowzer, a member of the notorious hacker team Xecuter, was sentenced to 40 months in prison for piracy and fined $15 million in February 2022. Bowzer, who pleaded guilty to his crimes, was recently released from prison for good behavior in March 2023. However, he remains in the United States and is awaiting deportation to Canada.
For years, Xecuter developed tools for hacking Nintendo consoles, resulting in significant losses for the gaming company. Despite serving his sentence, Bowzer was ordered by the court to pay $10 million to the subsidiary of Nintendo of America for a separate civil lawsuit and an additional $4.5 million for restoration.
Bowzer, who earned work privileges during his prison sentence, managed to pay only $175 so far. As part of the order, up to 30% of his monthly salary will go towards paying off his debt to Nintendo, and he must find permanent work within six months to make monthly payments.
This development highlights the seriousness of piracy and its impact on the gaming industry. Despite Bowzer’s release, his sentence and subsequent financial obligations serve as a warning to others considering illegal activities.