In 2020, Bowser was apprehended due to his participation in the hacking group Team Xecuter. This group was known for creating mod chips, altered cartridges, and jailbroken software for gaming consoles, particularly the Nintendo Switch.
For those unfamiliar with gaming, this essentially meant that the group was offering games for free. Understandably, Nintendo did not appreciate this as it threatened their revenue.
At 55 years old, Bowser admitted guilt to federal criminal charges, acknowledging he had marketed tools that compromised the security of the Nintendo console.
He received a 40-month prison sentence in the United States and was ordered to pay $14.5 million for his role in the group’s activities.
In 2023, Bowser was released from prison earlier than expected. While this marked the end of his incarceration, it signaled the beginning of a hefty financial obligation to Nintendo.
During an interview with YouTuber Nick Moses, Bowser discussed his early release, highlighting that it was largely due to his age, health issues affecting his mobility, and his Canadian citizenship.
He mentioned plans to return to the Toronto area but noted that leaving the US did not absolve him of the financial debt he owed to Nintendo.
At the time of his release, Bowser had to pay Nintendo $10 million in restitution along with a $4.5 million fine, totaling $14.5 million.
He mentioned to Moses: “The agreement with them is that the maximum they can take is between 25 to 30 percent of your monthly gross income. And I have, like, six months before I have to start making payments.”
Previously, Bowser claimed that he only received a small portion of the ‘tens of millions of dollars of proceeds’ generated by Team Xecuter.
Bowser was the only member of the group to face trial and conviction in the US. Another member, a Chinese national, was never apprehended, and a third individual could not be extradited to the US.
Initially, Bowser was charged with 11 felonies, including wire fraud, conspiracy to bypass technological measures, trafficking in circumvention devices, and conspiracy to commit money laundering.
In a February 2024 interview with The Guardian, Bowser shared that he had secured a place to live and contributes to Nintendo ‘what [he] can,’ although the amount isn’t significant as he is still seeking employment and depends on donations for his medical expenses related to his leg.
He concluded: “It could be a lot worse.”