Close Menu
Sirus Gaming
    • News Stories
    • Features
    • Reviews
    • Previews
    • Guide
    • Review Policy
    • Privacy Policy
    • Contact
    What's New in Sirus?

    SEGA Announces Free Demo for Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds

    September 11, 2025
    Borderlands 4 Review Featured Image
    9

    Borderlands 4 – Review

    September 11, 2025

    Demo For Digimon Story: Time Stranger To be Launched This Week

    September 9, 2025
    Facebook X (Twitter) YouTube
    Sirus Gaming
    Sirus Gaming
    News Stories

    Hacker that Stole Nintendo Secrets Sentenced to Three Years in Prison

    By Christian PepitoDecember 3, 20202 Mins Read
    Share
    Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Pinterest Email

    A hacker who stole secrets from Nintendo has been sentenced to prison for three years.

    The hacker is the 21-year-old Californian man named Ryan S. Hernandez, who is also known as Ryan West. He used the online name RyanRocks. The United States Department of Justice announced that he has been sentenced to three years in prison this week in the US District Court in Seattle. He did crime related to hacking and possession of child pornography.

    Way back in 2016, this hacker and one associate of his used phishing techniques to steal the credentials of a Nintendo employee. They then used those to gain access to the Nintendo server and steal confidential files. These files included items related to the Nintendo Switch and then it got leaked to the public.

    Hernandez was quickly found out as the FBI investigated the case. He and his family were contacted at their home in California in October 2017. At that time, he swore that he would stop hacking, but there was evidence that later at June 2018 to June 2019, he did it again. He hacked into multiple Nintendo servers and stole more confidential files related to consoles, games, and developer tools. He also boasted this online on social media platforms like Discord and Twitter and shared it with others.

    DOJ revealed that Hernandez was the administrator of a forum called Ryan’s Underground Hangout where he shared Nintendo information and shared data about network weaknesses and more.

    This prompted the FBI to take action and by June 2019, they searched the Hernandez household and seized all electronic devices where they found thousands of stolen Nintendo files. They also found a folder that contained over 1000 videos and images of child pornography.

    The hacker pleaded guilty during the trial in January 2020. US District Judge John C. Coughenour recommended Hernandez to be incarcerated at a Bureau of Prison facility for inmates with cognitive challenges. He ordered that he will be placed on seven years of supervised release after prison. Hernandez will also be registered as a sex offender. He also agreed to pay $259,323 in restitution to Nintendo.

    Source: The United States Department of Justice via Eurogamer

    Share. Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIn Tumblr Email
    Christian Pepito

    Meet our dedicated gaming news writer, a true aficionado of hardcore JRPGs, PS1 Classics, and the thrill of stealth-action games. He enjoys playing the games he collects, friendly or competitive tabletop card games, and is constantly on the quest for the ultimate ramen experience.

    Related Posts
    7.0

    Nintendo Switch 2 Review: Is It Worth Getting?

    August 5, 2025
    Nintendo & Game Freak Sue Palworld Over Multiple Patent Infringements Featured Image

    Nintendo & Game Freak Sue Palword Over Multiple Patent Infringements

    September 19, 2024
    Nintendo Direct June 2024 Featured Image

    All Game Announcements Shown In Nintendo Direct June 2024

    June 19, 2024
    Sirus Exclusives

    Digimon Story: Time Stranger – Demo Impressions

    September 11, 2025

    Borderlands 4 – First Impressions

    September 4, 2025

    How Borderlands 4 Evolves the Looter-Shooter Formula

    September 4, 2025
    A Sony PlayStation 5 console on a table with a large red tag showing a price increase from $499.99 to $549.99

    Sony’s Price Hike Isn’t Just Greed, It’s the End of an Era

    August 21, 2025
    About Us
    About Us

    Sirus Gaming is a team of passionate gamers delivering the latest news, reviews, and insights on the gaming industry.

    Find us on OpenCritic, and we're proud to have been a voting jury in The Game Awards since 2022.

    Contact us: [email protected]

    Check Our Reviews
    Borderlands 4 Review Featured Image
    9

    Borderlands 4 – Review

    September 11, 2025
    Shinobi Art of Vengeance Featured Image
    8

    SHINOBI Art of Vengeance – Review

    September 8, 2025
    Car Dealer Simulator Review Featured Image
    7

    Car Dealer Simulator – Review

    September 8, 2025
    Exclusive Content

    Digimon Story: Time Stranger – Demo Impressions

    September 11, 2025

    Borderlands 4 – First Impressions

    September 4, 2025

    How Borderlands 4 Evolves the Looter-Shooter Formula

    September 4, 2025
    Facebook X (Twitter) YouTube
    • Privacy Policy
    • Review Policy
    • Contact
    © 2025 Sirus Gaming. Designed by Sirus Media Digital.

    Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.