Local Man Sentenced On Computer Hacking Charges

St. Louis, MO – JONATHAN COWDEN was sentenced today to fifteen months of imprisonment resulting from his conviction for hacking a website associated with an Israeli-based business.  Cowden was also ordered to pay restitution to the victims of his hacking crimes. 

The hacking charge against Cowden resulted from a series of computer intrusions Cowden executed between November 2011 and January 2012.  Cowden’s attacks typically looked for vulnerabilities in websites that he could exploit, which allowed him to gain unauthorized access to data and information which he then posted on-line. 

Jonathan Cowden, formerly of St. Louis but currently of San Diego, California, pled guilty last August to one felony count of computer fraud, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1030. He appeared today for sentencing before United States District Judge Audrey G. Fleissig. 

This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Regional Computer Crimes Education and Enforcement Group and the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department.  Assistant United States Attorney John Bodenhausen handled the case for the U.S. Attorney’s Office.