LOS ANGELES -- Kevin D. Mitnick pleaded guilty Friday to computer fraud and wire fraud in a plea agreement that will result in a sentence of 46 months.
Given the time he has spent in prison and time off for good behavior, Mitnick could be released as early as a year from now, prosecutors said.Mitnick's lawyer, Donald C. Randolph, said Mitnick could be released to a halfway house as early as the fall.
Mitnick has been in prison since February 1995 when he was captured in North Carolina after being on the run for more than two years. During that time, according to what Mitnick admitted Friday, he broke into computers, intercepted computer communications and stole proprietary software from several cellular telephone and software companies.
Often, he called up the target company pretending to be an employee in order to get passwords.
Under the agreement, Mitnick will not be able to use a computer or cellular phone for three years after leaving prison without permission of his probation officer.