Queensland man avoids jail sentence after selling League of Legends player data

The ABC yesterday reported that Shane Duffy of Queensland, who sold private League of Legends player information, has been sentenced to two-and-a-half years in jail with immediate parole. The sentence means that Duffy will avoid actual jail time.

Duffy pleaded guilty to fraud and computer hacking of Riot Games, with Brisbane District court Judge Tony Moynihan ruling that Duffy’s actions were “sophisticated [and] committed over a lengthy period of time.”

Prosecutor Joshua Hanna told the court that Duffy wasn’t directly involved with the Riot Games data breach, instead obtaining a copy of the stolen data online. Duffy then hacked into the account of Riot’s President, Marc Merrill, telling followers he was happy to sell the information on. All up, Duffy was involved in 194 individual transactions between May 2013 and March 2014, selling players’ IP addresses for a total of $32,000 AUD.

It’s believed Duffy’s immediate parole is a result of his mental illness, lack of education and the recent passing of his father. Duffy’s mother pointed out her son’s autism has inhibited his formal education; he has been home schooled since Grade 4.

Duffy’s defence lawyer, Patrick Wilson, told the court that “his mother was fearful of having him medicated” during the proceedings, and that “[Duffy] is an offender who has less moral culpability.”

Despite these arguments, Judge Moynihan concluded that Duffy’s “offending was sophisticated, committed over a lengthy period of time.”

“This type of crime potentially affects many people, can cause great loss and is difficult to detect, investigate or prosecute,” Moynihan added.

In addition to the two-and-a-half year jail sentence, with immediate parole, Duffy was also given an 18-month suspended jail term for Commonwealth offenses and placed on a two-and-a-half year good behaviour bond.

Photo: ABC News