A man sentenced to three years in prison for his role in a Nintendo Switch hack sales scheme has been released early. But he says he’ll have to pay Nintendo a portion of his earnings every month for a very long time as part of a $10 million deal with the company.
In a podcast interview (first reported by TorrentFreak), Gary Bowser, 53, said he was paroled from federal prison in Seattle because of his age, medical condition and nationality (he is Canadian). He will be returning to the Toronto area soon. But Bowser noted that his plea deal requires him to pay Nintendo $10 million in compensation.
“The deal with them is that the maximum they can take is between 25% and 30% of your gross monthly income,” Bowser said said podcaster Nick Moses. “And I have about six months before I have to start making payments.”
Bowser was arrested in the Dominican Republic in October 2020 and was one of three members of Team Xecuter, which developed and sold devices for hacking video game consoles, including the Nintendo Switch. He pleaded guilty to a federal criminal complaint in November 2021. In that plea, Bowser admitted to selling tools that hacked Nintendo Switch consoles and used to give his customers Switch games for free.
In December 2021 he has ready to pay Nintendo $10 million
It’s also unlikely that Nintendo will ever see the full amount. So far, Bowser said he’s paid Nintendo $175 from money he’s made working in the prison’s library and kitchen. He also has health issues that limit his mobility. Bowser said on the podcast that he is grateful to be returning to Canada to access health care and disability insurance that is being provided to him.
