Scarlett Johansson Nude Photo Scandal

The man who hacked nude photos of Scarlett Johansson should be forced to pay the actress $66k for her troubles ... at least that's what the U.S. Government is recommending to the judge in the case.

The government has filed new documents with U.S. District Court in California ... in which prosecutors explain how celeb hacker Christopher Chaney should be sentenced for his crimes.

As we previously reported, Chaney pled guilty to 9 hacking-related felonies back in March ... after stealing racy photos of several starlets including Mila Kunis.

According to the docs, the gov. believes Chaney should be sentenced to 71 months in prison ... and forced to pay restitution to some of his victims ... including:

-- $7,500 to Christina Aguilera
-- $66,179.46 to Scarlett Johansson
-- $76,767.35 to actress Renee Olstead

The gov. also believes Chaney should pay $10k to AFTRA Health Fund.

In the docs, prosecutors argue that Chaney's crimes were even worse than that of Michael David Barrett -- the guy who videotaped a naked Erin Andrews and posted the footage on the Internet.

Barrett was sentenced to 30 months in prison for his crime.

The man who hacked Scarlett Johansson and Mila Kunis -- leaking several nude photos onto the Internet -- has pled guilty to 9 felonies.

As we previously reported, Christopher Chaney struck a plea agreement with prosecutors -- in which he agreed to plead guilty to 9 counts including identity theft, wiretapping, and unauthorized access and damage to a protected computer.

Chaney was taken into custody immediately after entering his plea. He will be sentenced in July.

As part of the deal Chaney will have to hand over his computers, external drives, and his cell phone.

Christopher Chaney will plead guilty to hacking Mila Kunis and Scarlett Johansson -- and leaking nude photos of them to the Internet -- as part of a plea deal he's struck with Federal prosecutors.

The plea agreement -- filed today in Federal Court -- states Chaney will plead guilty to 9 counts including identity theft, wiretapping, and unauthorized access and damage to a protected computer.

As part of the deal Chaney will have to hand over his computers, external drives, and his cell phone -- and he could be sentenced to up to 60 years in prison and 3 years probation.

Scarlett Johansson says the self-shot nude photos that were hacked from her phone were only intended for an audience of one -- then-hubby Ryan Reynolds.

Scarlett opened up about the pics to Vanity Fair ... saying, "They were sent to my husband ... there's nothing wrong with that."

Johansson adds, "It's not like I was shooting a porno ... although there's nothing wrong with that either."

As TMZ previously reported, the FBI arrested the man allegedly responsible for hacking and leaking the nude pics ... and the guy is actually scheduled to appear in court in L.A. later today. If convicted on all charges, he could face up to 121 years in federal prison.

TMZ has evidence ... Chris Chaney, the man who was arrested Wednesday for hacking the email accounts and cell phones of numerous celebrities, may not have been a lone wolf ... and there are other hackers who may have obtained access to the same nude photos Chaney allegedly distributed.

TMZ has not published the nude, hacked photos of several celebs, including Scarlett Johansson, but we have received numerous emails from others who claimed to have had access.

One of the purported hackers began contacting us nearly 2 years ago, saying he wanted to take Chaney down. But although he claimed to be assisting law enforcement, he sent TMZ nude photos of a number of celebs -- which we never published.

And a third purported hacker contacted TMZ and sent us hacked pictures of Mila Kunis and Justin Timberlake. The feds say Chaney hacked Mila's phone, but he may not have been the only one.

The man accused of hacking dozens of celebrity phones and emails says he was "addicted" to prying into the private lives of the rich and famous ... insisting he was "relieved" when he got caught.

Christopher Chaney spoke with "Action News Jacksonville" last night ... saying, "It started as curiosity and it turned to just being addictive ... seeing the behind-the-scenes of what's going on with the people you see on the big screen."

The man arrested for allegedly hacking into celebrity phones is a convicted con artist ... who was once busted by the feds for running a scheme to steal people's life insurance money ... TMZ has learned.

According to court records, obtained by TMZ ... Christopher Howard Chaney plead guilty to mail fraud in federal court in Florida back in 1998 ... for stealing money from Prudential life insurance policy holders in a diabolical plan he executed with a friend back in 1997.

Court docs reveal ... Chaney had a pal who worked for Prudential, and that guy would identify Prudential Life Insurance customers who had names similar to Chaney's.

Chaney would then fill out paperwork, posing as his victims ... and took money out of their policies ... thousands of dollars at a time.

Chaney -- who was a teenager when he was involved in the scam -- was convicted ... and sentenced to 48 months probation and ordered to return the money he stole.

Now, Chaney is back in the criminal system -- accused of hacking 50 people, mostly famous people, and leaking VERY private information to the web ... including nude photos of Scarlett Johansson, Vanessa Hudgens and more.

If convicted in the hacking case, Chaney could face 121 years in federal prison.

The man accused of hacking nude pictures from Scarlett Johansson and other celebrities has been released from federal custody ... TMZ has learned.

35-year-old Christopher Chaney was arrested this morning by the FBI on charges of wiretapping, identity theft, and other charges related to hacking celebrity phones and computers.

Chaney appeared before a judge this afternoon in Florida and was released on a $10,000 bond.

As part of his release, the judge banned Chaney from using ANY computer device that has Internet access. Chaney is also prohibited from using drugs and possessing firearms.

The FBI just released the grand jury indictment of a man who allegedly hacked into the email accounts of 50 victims, including dozens of celebrities.

The indictment was issued against 35-year-old Christopher Chaney of Jacksonville, Florida. He was arrested this morning by FBI agents, on charges of identity theft, wiretapping and other charges.

According to federal officials, Chaney would use public information to access email accounts of his alleged victims, and then access computers and cell phones under the control of his victims.

Some of the alleged victims include Christina Aguilera, Scarlett Johansson, Mila Kunis, and celebrity stylist Simone Harouche. Some of the ill-gotten materials included naked photos.

As TMZ first reported, law enforcement sources tell us Chaney allegedly acted alone, and got no money for his alleged misdeeds -- rather, he did it for the thrill.

Chaney faces 121 years in federal prison if convicted on all counts.

The FBI has arrested one person suspected of hacking into the phones of Hollywood stars like Scarlett Johansson and Vanessa Hudgens ... and leaking private photos. And, we've learned, the FBI is convinced the guy is a lone wolf, who never got a cent for the pictures he stole ... he just did it for the thrill.

Law enforcement sources tell us the man is from Florida, and the FBI has known about him for several months, but the U.S. Attorney didn't take action until now.

Our sources say the man hacked into numerous celebrity phones and then distributed the ill-gotten photos to third parties, never asking for any money. He did it because he got a charge out of it.

The FBI says the investigation was dubbed, "Operation Hackerazzi."

So far, the identity of the suspect has not been released.

Scarlett Johansson is speaking out about the double-edged sword of fame -- claiming she's just as entitled to privacy as anyone else ... after nude pics of the actress leaked online earlier this month.

In a CNN interview ... Scarlett says, "Who doesn't want to protect their own privacy? There are certain instances where you give a lot of yourself and finally you have to kind of put your foot down and say, 'Oh wait, I'm taking it back.' "

With her mom at her side, a covered up Scarlett Johansson was photographed walking around NYC on Monday.

A fully clothed Scarlett Johansson took to the streets of NYC today ... taking a bite of the forbidden fruit one day after her hacked nude photos spread through the Internet like a bad strain of the bird flu ... glorious, naked bird flu.

The scofflaws who hacked Scarlett Johansson's cell phone ... and then leaked several nude pics -- are in the crosshairs of the FBI, and we're told the Feds already know the identity of the main culprit.

TMZ broke the story ... Scarlett contacted the FBI yesterday after the pics -- one which features her bare breasts and another showcasing her behind -- were leaked to several websites.

Law enforcement sources tell TMZ ... the FBI is "honing in" on the group of hackers and know the identity of at least one of them -- and we're told it's the ringleader.

Scarlett Johansson's lawyer is on the attack -- warning a bunch of websites that Scarlett owns the copyright to her HACKED nude pics and anyone who doesn't take 'em down will FACE HIS WRATH!!!!

TMZ has learned ... Scarlett's attorney -- legal pit bull Marty Singer -- has fired off threatening letters to various sites including TheDirty.com ... demanding that the sites remove the "stolen copyright protected private photographs" immediately ... or face legal action.

Singer claims, "The highly personal and private photographs at issue capture our client self-posing in her own home in a state of undress and/or topless."

And just to make sure he's perfectly clear, Singer concludes ... "If you fail to comply, you will be acting at your own peril. Please govern yourselves accordingly."

TheDirty tells TMZ ... the site will adhere to Singer's request and take down the photos.