Nicholas Moore, who pleaded guilty to hacking the U.S. Supreme Court’s electronic document filing system, was sentenced to one year of probation on Friday, April 17, 2026, avoiding potential prison time and a $100,000 fine.
Moore gained unauthorized access to three U.S. government networks over several months using stolen credentials. He repeatedly breached the Supreme Court’s document filing system dozens of times, along with the networks of AmeriCorps—a government agency running stipend volunteer programs—and the Department of Veterans Affairs, which provides healthcare and welfare to military veterans.
The hacker brazenly documented his exploits on Instagram under the handle @ihackedthegovernment, where he posted personal information belonging to his victims. Moore used credentials stolen from one victim to access all three government systems.
Initially facing up to a year in prison and $100,000 in damages, Moore received a lighter sentence after prosecutors requested only probation. During the sentencing hearing, Moore expressed remorse for his actions.
“I made a mistake,” Moore told the court, according to The Hill. “I am truly sorry. I respect laws, and I want to be a good citizen.”
The case highlights ongoing cybersecurity vulnerabilities in government systems, particularly the risks posed by credential theft. The breach of the Supreme Court’s filing system—a platform handling sensitive legal documents—raises concerns about the security of critical judicial infrastructure. The relatively lenient sentence, despite multiple breaches of high-profile government networks and the public posting of victims’ personal data, may also spark debate about appropriate penalties for cybercrimes targeting government institutions.
Source: TechCrunch