( CNN ) -- The leader of the hacking group LulzSec has been charged in connection with an attack on a government website in early April , Australian police officials said Wednesday . In a news release posted on their website , the Australian Federal Police said the man was a 24-year-old Internet technology professional from Point Clare , a suburb on the New South Wales coast , about 75 kilometers ( 46 miles ) north of Sydney . He is charged with two counts of unauthorized modification of data and one count of unauthorized access to ( or modification of ) restricted data . The man faces up to 10 years for the first two charges and up to two years on the third charge . Police did n't release the man 's name , but said he worked for a company that did work for government agencies . The release called him the `` self-proclaimed leader '' of the hacking group . `` The AFP believes the man 's knowledge and skills presented a significant risk to the clients of the company for which he was employed had he continued his illegal online activities , '' the release stated . On June 2 , 2011 , LulzSec burst onto the cybersecurity scene with a splashy exploit : It published a trove of data stolen from 1 million user accounts on Sony 's website . It followed the Sony hack with a string of high-profile feats , including crashing the CIA 's website . The man posted bail and is next due in court May 15 .
Man faces 12 years in prison for allegedly hacking government website . Police say he worked for IT company that did business with government agencies . Comment: