A computer hacker who led a series of cyber-attacks on governments and corporations before turning FBI informant has avoided more time in prison. Hector Xavier Monsegur, known by his alias “Sabu,” walked free on Tuesday after being sentenced to time served, the seven months he has spent behind bars. Sabu was once a key member of Anonymous and LulzSec, launching cyber-attacks that caused an estimated $50 million worth of damage. But he later turned on his cybercomrades. Working for the FBI, Sabu allegedly directed his friends to carry out more cyber-attacks while feeding investigators enough incriminating evidence to indict them. Defense attorney Peggy Cross-Goldenberg said Sabu hopes to put his past behind him.

Peggy Cross-Goldenberg: “It has been a long and hard three years for Mr. Monsegur. We’re very pleased that the judge recognized both what an extraordinary person he is and the extraordinary efforts that he has gone through in the past three years to turn his life around and to make up for his conduct and really to, as she said, use his skills to do good. Those who know him know that he is a smart, diligent, loyal, hardworking person, and Mr. Monsegur and his family are looking forward to putting this behind them and moving on with their lives to do good things.”

Sabu also played a key role in the government’s arrest of computer hacker Jeremy Hammond, who was sentenced last year to 10 years in prison for hacking into the computers of the private intelligence firm Stratfor. Hammond has accused Sabu and the FBI of using him to attack the webpages of foreign governments.