by Alison Storm | 03/26/10

A federal judge handed out the stiffest penalty in history to a man convicted of stealing millions of credit card numbers. Twenty-eight-year-old Albert Gonzalez was sentenced to 20 years behind bars in a Boston federal courtroom. Officials say he hacked into the computer systems of major retailers like TJ Maxx, BJs Wholesale Club, Dave & Busters and more. They say he cost banks and insurers nearly $200 million.

Just before he was sentenced, reporters say he apologized to his family as his mother, father and sister sat in the court room's front row. Gonzalez said it wasn't greed that spurred his crimes, but instead "because of my inability to stop my pursuit'' and "my [Internet] addiction.' I blame nobody but myself,'' he said.

The credit card thefts allowed Gonzalez to buy a Miami condo, a BMW, three Rolex watches and even a ring from Tiffany's for his girlfriend. How did he get away with this crime for so long? Prosecutors say Gonzalez and his various partners in crime would drive past stores on US 1 in Miami with their laptop. They would survey the retailers for those with vulnerable wireless Internet service.

U.S. attorney Stephen Heymann begged the court to punish Gonzalez severely, to deter others from a life of cybercrime. According to Wired.com, Heymann said that Gonzalez “conned law enforcement once before with the idea that he had seen the error of his ways. What matters is that teenagers and young people not look up to him," says Heymann.

Gonzalez will serve two 20 year terms concurrently. That's the harshest penalty to date in America for a computer crime. But his sentencing isn't over. He's schedule to receive another sentence from a different judge for a New Jersey case where he stole credit cards numbers from grocery store chains, 7-Eleven stores and Heartland. It's likely that Gonzalez will also have to pay some restitution. He will have to return more than $2.7 million of what officials say he stole, plus he'll have to give up his condo, car, and other purchases made with the stolen money. According to the Miami Herald, last year investigators found $1.1 million in cash buried in plastic bags in Gonzalez's parents' backyard. His parents said they didn't know the money was there.