Former College of Saint Rose student, Vishwanath Akuthota, 26, has been charged with damaging over 50 student computers.
Akuthoa is an Indian citizen currently residing in the United States on a student visa. On February 22 he was arrested on suspicion of using a “USB killer device” to send a rapid series of power surges into a computer’s hardware thus rendering it inoperable. The killer device resembles an ordinary USB memory stick and has caused over $50,000 in damages.
If convicted Akuthoa faces up to ten years in prison as well as a fine of $250,000 and a term of supervised release for up to 3 years.