Digital Trends

Two Fresno State students face the possibility of jail time and massive fines for hacking the university's computer system and changing grades.

Crime doesn’t pay. Or more specifically, it does for a little while, then really comes back to get you later. Two Fresno State students found this out recently when they were charged with conspiracy, wire fraud, identity theft and unauthorized computer access – all for breaking into the school’s computer system and artificially boosting their grades.

According to PC World, 29-year-old John Escalera and 28-year-old Gustavo Razo Jr. could land 20 years in the slammer and up to $250,000 in fines for their academic tomfoolery. Allegedly, the men changed their university grades back in early 2004 using the school’s compromised computer system, and were caught when a later grade audit turned up the suspicious changes. A grand jury indicted them last week, and a hearing will be held on Nov. 16.

Despite the potential consequences for both men, the hack itself was relatively simple. Escalera used his position at the university’s help desk to hack a supervisor password and unlock full administrative privileges, which included access to the registrar’s account. From there he changed both his grades and those of his friend, who, according to the indictment, paid him in exchange for the favor.