By Paul Foy
Associated Press
SALT LAKE CITY — A 22-year-old Ohio man linked to the hacker collective Anonymous was sentenced Thursday to three years in federal prison for breaking into police-agency websites across the country.
Court records say John Anthony Borell III used Twitter to advertise his exploits to other members of the group.
A newlywed, Borell was given until Dec. 6 to turn himself in at a federal prison near his family in Toledo, Ohio.
He was arrested after taking down police-agency websites in Utah, California, New York and Missouri in January and February of 2012.
Borell pleaded guilty to computer fraud in April and agreed to pay $227,000 in damages to computer servers that had to be repaired or beefed up for security.
Anonymous is a loosely organized group of Internet enthusiasts, pranksters and activists that has targeted organizations such as MasterCard and the Church of Scientology.
Copyright 2013 Associated Press