'Lizard Squad' hacker admits to conspiracy targeting 'thousands'

A Maryland man with ties to international hacking groups with "thousands of victims" pleaded guilty in Chicago Tuesday to a conspiracy that may land him behind bars.

But Zachary Buchta could also catch a big break if he continues to cooperate with federal prosecutors, according to his 20-page plea agreement.

Buchta, 20, of Fallston, Md., pleaded guilty in front of U.S. District Judge Manish Shah to a conspiracy to damage a protected computer. He also admitted his role in the Lizard Squad and PoodleCorp hacking groups that have been tied to attacks against the Sony PlayStation and Xbox gaming systems.

The feds charged Buchta along with Bradley Jan Willem Van Rooy of the Netherlands in October 2016. Van Rooy is being prosecuted overseas.

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