Eleven charged in U.S. retail customer data theft

BOSTON Eleven people have been charged for stealing over 40 million consumer credit and debit card numbers from major U.S. retailers in what is believed to be the largest identity-theft case ever prosecuted by the U.S. Justice Department.

The charges have been brought against three people from the United States, three from Ukraine, two from China, one from Estonia and one from Belarus. The person said to have been running the scheme is Albert Gonzalez of Miami, who hacked into the computer systems of retailers including TJX, BJ's, OfficeMax, Barnes & Noble, The Sports Authority, Forever 21 and DSW, among others. Gonzalez will face charges on various counts of fraud and identity theft.