Minnesota man gets 18 years for hacking into neighbors’ wireless network, Biden email threat

ST. PAUL, Minn. - A Minnesota man has been sentenced to 18 years in prison for hacking into his neighbors’ wireless network and framing them for distributing child pornography and email threats against Vice President Joe Biden and other officials.

Barry Ardolf, of Blaine, received the sentence Tuesday in federal court in St. Paul.

In a plea agreement in December, the 46-year-old Ardolf admitted using the hacked network to send sexually explicit emails -- including one containing child pornography -- to his neighbor’s co-workers. He also sent threats to Biden and other public officials, signing them with the neighbor’s name.

He was indicted on the charges in June 2010.

Minnesota Public Radio reported Donald Oswald of the Minneapolis FBI released a statement saying Ardolf’s apparent motive was “to ruin the victim’s reputation and livelihood.”