After being released from prison, the hacker is required to pay Nintendo a portion of his salary for the rest of his life as part of his sentence.
Gary Bowser, a Canadian hacker, was a key member of Team Xecuter, a hacking group that severely impacted Nintendo’s profits.
The group created mod chips, cartridges, and jailbroken software for consoles, including the Nintendo Switch, allowing games to be played for free.
This operation cost Nintendo millions of dollars and led to Bowser’s arrest in 2020.
Gary Bowser’s legal consequences and prison sentence
Bowser pleaded guilty to federal charges for selling tools that enabled the hacking of Nintendo’s portable consoles.
In 2020, he was sentenced to 40 months in U.S. prison. In addition to his sentence, Bowser was ordered to pay $14.5 million in restitution, which included a $10 million repayment to Nintendo and a $4.5 million fine.
The ongoing financial obligation after Bowser’s release
After serving part of his sentence, Bowser was granted early release in 2023.
However, his freedom came with a significant condition. He must pay Nintendo 25 to 30 percent of his monthly salary for the rest of his life as part of the restitution agreement.
He told Moses: “The agreement with them is that the maximum they can take is between 25 to 30 percent of your monthly gross income.
And I have, like, six months before I have to start making payments,” Bowser shared. He explained that he was given six months before he had to begin making payments.
However, despite his release, Bowser continues to face ongoing financial struggle
He is still seeking steady employment; meanwhile, he relies on donations to cover medical care for a leg injury.
Upon his release, Bowser was required to pay Nintendo $10 million in restitution and a $4.5 million fine, totaling $14.5 million.
Bowser’s early release and personal struggles
Bowser’s early release was influenced by several factors, including his age, health problems, and his Canadian citizenship.
He explained that his health issues limit his mobility, making prison conditions more difficult.
After returning to the Toronto area, Bowser continued to deal with his financial responsibilities to Nintendo.
He admitted that, although he was not making much money, he was still determined to pay what he could.
Furthermore, team Xecuter’s activities, including selling devices that allowed users to play games without paying, were a direct threat to the industry. Consequently, these actions led to severe consequences for him and others involved.
He was the only one of the three Team Xecuter members to be tried and convicted in the U.S. One member, a Chinese national, was never arrested, and the third was not extradited.
Although Bowser has been released from prison, he will spend the rest of his life paying Nintendo for the damage caused by his actions.
Meanwhile, as he works to rebuild his life, he continues to reflect on his past mistakes. In short, the financial burden he now faces serves as a constant reminder of his wrongdoings.