Lauri Love, 31, was arrested at his home in Suffolk on three warrants from the USA relating to alleged offences committed in New Jersey, Virginia and New York during 2012 and 2013.
The Asperger’s sufferer turned up at court today wearing a green hat featuring a bear.
He allegedly broke into the computers of various major US government agencies, including the Federal Reserve Bank and the Missile Defence Agency.
Love turned up at his latest extradition hearing carrying a copy of ‘Saving Gary McKinnon: A Mother’s Story’.
Glasgow-born McKinnon had faced similar hacking charges in the US but he was saved from extradition after the home secretary, Theresa May, intervened.
Love appeared at Westminster Magistrates’ Court today as the UK’s National Crime Agency began a fresh attempt to force him to reveal his encryption keys and passwords.
He was allegedly part of a criminal network specialising in computer intrusions, and is said to have taken part in a ‘hacktivist’ protest against the US government by Anonymous.
He refused to hand over his encryption keys and passwords following his arrest at his parent’s home in Stradishall, Suffolk, in 2013.
His case has been compared to McKinnon, 50, who escaped extradition to the US in 2012 after being accused of the ‘biggest military computer hack of all time’.
NCA prosecutors today asked District Judge Nina Tempia to order Love to disclose the information after failing to obtain the data using section 49 of the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act.Love, who is on bail, has begun legal action against the agency as he tries to secure the return of his computer equipment.
He was joined in court by supporters from Courage Foundation, who argue he could not cope with conditions in the U.S. prison system.
Judge Tempia rose for an hour to read case papers and said she would reserve judgement to herself.
The hearing continues
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