Max Vision, who was formerly known as Max Butler, pleaded guilty last year to stealing 1.8 million credit card numbers. In addition to the 13-year sentence, Vision, a 37-year-old San Franciscan, was ordered to pay restitution amounting to $27.5 million.
In all, Vision's credit card caper cost card companies about $86 million. He was arrested in 2007, and through cooperation with federal officials, was given a lighter sentence than suggested by statute.
Vision is not the only person to have perpetrated the theft of credit card numbers. Albert Gonzalez, a 28-year-old Miami resident, recently pled guilty to charges involving the theft of millions of credit and debit card numbers.
Gonzalez faced charges involving thefts in a number of states, and is expected to face sentencing at the end of March. He is expected to get at least 17 years for the crimes, which will run concurrently with sentences tied to other crimes.