Computer security experts around the country are watching the first prosecution of Albert Gonzalez closely, noting the case illustrates many of the challenges law enforcement face bringing cases against alleged card security thieves.

U.S. prosecutors allege that Gonzalez, 28, was the ringleader of a series of computer data security breaches that compromised millions of credit and debit card accounts nationwide and led to tens of millions of dollars in losses to card issuers and consumers. Gonzalez is being held at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn, awaiting trial in Federal court for the earliest of his alleged major breaches, that against the Dave & Busters restaurant chain.

Gonzalez also faces a federal indictment in Massachusetts relating to the TJX breach and in New Jersey related to the Heartland Payment Systems breach.