A 25-year-old Dutch man has been sentenced to 18 months in prison after running a large-scale operation selling illegal cheat software for Grand Theft Auto V and stolen login credentials from his own websites.
The man sold software for FiveM, the platform that allows players to run custom multiplayer servers for GTA V. The tools gave users various ways to cheat, bypass server bans and interfere with other players and servers.
According to the court, the operation also involved the sale of so-called combo lists containing stolen usernames and passwords for more than one million accounts.
GTA V cheats turned into a business
What started as a hobby eventually grew into a profitable illegal business.
The man operated websites selling cheat software for GTA V and FiveM. Among the software mentioned in the case were Lumia Redengine Premium Menu and Nexus Redengine Premium Menu.
The tools could manipulate the game and interfere with multiplayer servers. Users could gain unfair advantages, bypass bans and, in some cases, disrupt servers.
The court considered the software more serious than ordinary in-game cheating because some of the tools could be used to interfere with the availability of online servers.
More than one million stolen accounts
The GTA cheats were only part of the operation.
Investigators found around 200 combo lists containing login credentials for more than one million accounts.
Combo lists are collections of usernames and passwords obtained from data breaches and other sources. Such credentials can later be used for account takeovers, fraud and other criminal activities.
The court found the man's involvement with the stolen credentials to be part of the criminal operation.
The impact on online games
The court also considered the wider impact of cheat software on multiplayer games.
Cheaters can gain an unfair advantage over other players, potentially damaging the multiplayer experience and encouraging players to stop playing.
Developers can also have to spend additional time and money developing anti-cheat systems, releasing updates and investigating new cheating methods.
In this case, the court specifically considered the potential damage to players and the companies operating the affected games.
Drugs were also found during the investigation
The investigation uncovered more than just gaming-related offences.
Police found evidence that the man had also been involved in the trade of cannabis and hashish. Messages found during the investigation showed that the drug dealing had been going on for an extended period.
Investigators also found a large quantity of pre-rolled joints during the raid.
The court convicted him for the drug-related offences as well as the offences involving the GTA software and stolen credentials.
Four years demanded, 18 months imposed
The prosecution had demanded a four-year prison sentence. The court ultimately sentenced the man to 18 months in prison.
His gaming computer and Agon monitor were also confiscated, along with the drugs found during the investigation.
He was not convicted of money laundering. The court found there was insufficient evidence that converting criminal proceeds into cryptocurrency was specifically intended to conceal their origin.
GTA 6 is coming next month
The case comes at an interesting time for Rockstar Games.
Grand Theft Auto VI is currently scheduled to launch on November 19, 2026 for PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S.
The case itself concerns GTA V and FiveM rather than GTA 6, but it highlights one of the problems that can surround hugely popular online games: the business that develops around cheats, exploits and tools designed to disrupt multiplayer experiences.
With GTA 6 on the horizon, Rockstar will once again have to deal with players trying to gain an unfair advantage once the new game launches.
Source: District Court of the Northern Netherlands
Webmastahhh is the creator of Mastanet, a gaming and technology website where he shares news, reviews, guides and personal insights about games, hardware, software and the future of digital entertainment.
