Hacker Pleads Guilty to Invading JPL, Stanford Computers

A 20-year-old hacker who seized control of sensitive computer programs at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena and at Stanford University pleaded guilty to federal charges Monday.

Jason Allen Diekman of Mission Viejo entered his plea after negotiating a deal with prosecutors that was filed under seal.

U.S. District Judge Dean D. Pregerson set sentencing for Feb. 5.

Diekman, who is being held without bail, was charged in September with illegal hacking and using stolen credit card numbers to buy more than $6,000 worth of computer equipment, stereo speakers and clothing.

According to a government affidavit, Diekman admitted to investigators that he hacked into “hundreds, maybe thousands” of computers over the last two years.

They allegedly included computer systems at UCLA, Harvard, Cornell, UC San Diego and Cal State Fullerton, but the most serious invasions occurred at JPL and Stanford.

Investigators said Diekman gained “root level” access to two NASA computer systems at JPL. Root access gives an intruder the ability to create, delete or modify files and to alter security on a system.

Using the nickname of Shadow Knight, Diekman also gained control over 24 computer systems at Stanford, including two owned by NASA that contained flight control software for the agency’s satellites.

Assistant U.S. Atty. Arif Alikhan said, however, that Diekman did not disrupt any NASA operations.

Diekman was taken into custody at the Orange County Jail, where he was serving time for an unrelated grand theft conviction.

He was arrested by Orange County sheriff’s detectives in August for allegedly stealing equipment from Cox Cable and storing it in his home. He pleaded guilty and was sentenced to 75 days in jail.

On the hard drive of his home computer, investigators said, they found about 500 credit card numbers that Diekman stole in his hacking forays and then used to buy merchandise.