> The Department of Justice made the unusual decision not to ask for jail time. In its sentencing memo, the government noted “the divide between [the defendants’] online personas, where they were significant, well-known, and malicious actors in the DDoS criminal milieu and their comparatively mundane ‘real lives’ where they present as socially immature young men living with their parents in relative obscurity.” It recommended five years of probation and 2,500 hours of community service.

Good to read a story where teen hackers get rehabilitated rather than heavily punished and pushed further into crime. That said, they don't really strike me as genius hackers. More just opportunistic and perpetually online.