Nintendo Switch Hackers Have Been Arrested for Fraud

Two members of Team Executer, a hacking and piracy group known for its Nintendo hacks, were arrested and charged with fraud. Gary Bowser and Max Louarn have been arrested in the Dominican Republic and are both notorious for allegedly leading the group to create resources such as the SX Pro USB that enables pirated games to run on the Nintendo Switch.

Known for selling products rather than concentrating on open-source projects, Team Xecuter is a controversial organisation in the emulation world, according to Ars Technica. Nintendo has already filed two lawsuits against the company earlier this year with a view to closing down all third-party stores that sell their goods online. Recently, Nintendo has been active in shutting down popular ROM sites known for selling Nintendo emulated games.

“These defendants are alleged to have been leaders of a notorious international criminal group that has made illegal profits for years by hacking the video game technology of U.S. companies,” said Brian C. Rabbitt, acting Assistant Attorney General of the Criminal Division of the Department of Justice. “These arrests show that the Department will hold accountable hackers seeking to control and exploit the intellectual property of American companies for financial gain, no matter where they may be located.”

In addition, the Department of Justice alleged that Xecuter “attempted to protect its overall business by using a wide range of brands, websites and distribution channels, according to the indictment” and that the company “closed its illegal activity with a purported desire to support gaming enthusiasts who wanted to design their own video games for non-commercial use.”

If prosecuted, both men are facing 20 years on each charge of conspiring to commit wire fraud and money laundering, including up to 5 years on lower charges.