You are right.
I have seen direct evidence that the Feds are very serious about this case.
It is possible that David Kernell has admitted what he did, and promised to cooperate fully with the ongoing investigation in return for reducing the charges to a non-felony. Plea Bargain to tell all. There are others that may not feel very comfortable right now.
This might be the best possible outcome.
Could be the tip of the iceberg if the “astroturf” efforts are exposed to the public. There are some really treacherous people working out of the public vision. Expose some of that and you really have something.
I've posted in another thread that the hacker would probably cop a plea.
He's just a puppet, so they need to find out just who the puppet master is.