Romanian hacker who revealed George W. Bush paintings pleads guilty

The Romanian hacker Marcel Lehel Lazar, better known as Guccifer, pleaded guilty today on hacking-related charges, prosecutors on the case announced in a statement. He faces seven years in prison.

Faces seven years in prison

Guccifer became infamous after a 2013 hack revealed self-portraits painted by former President George W. Bush, as well as private correspondence and information on the Bush family. The hacker was also credited with releasing emails from former Secretary of State Colin Powell, doodles drawn by Bill Clinton, and some emails sent through Hillary Clinton's private account.

In all, the 44-year-old Lazar admitted to accessing the emails or social media accounts of abut 100 Americans, prosecutors said. The victims in the case, however, were not named.

Lazar pleaded to charges of unauthorized access to a protected computer and aggravated identity theft. He faces a mandatory two-year sentence, though up to another five years could be added by the court. His sentencing is set for September 1st.

• SourceU.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia