Megaupload founder and notorious hacker has fleet of exotics seized

If you are in the car scene, hacker underworld or follow the exploits of the Gumball 3000, then you know the name Kim Schmitz. Er, well if you don't know that name how about Kimble? Doesn't ring a bell, how about Kim Dotcom? Oh there we go, you probably recognize that from the recent indictments in the Megaupload.com case.

Known throughout the world as being one of the most infamous and successful hackers in history, Schmitz has launced a number of businesses. Some were legitimate, such as Data Protect, which he sold in 2000 but others were nothing more than elaborate insider trading and investment schemes that made the portly German very wealthy. However, they also got the flamboyant character in all kinds of legal trouble over the years.

His latest venture was MegaUpload, which was conceptualized to give access to file sharing and create a new kind of music distribution with huge rev-share for artists. And the artists such as: Kanye West, will.i.am, Jamie Foxx, Sean "Diddy" Combs, Alicia Keys, Chris Brown backed him on it too. He even appointed DJ Swizz Beats to CEO but that didn't make the business legitimate enough because now he is being slapped with several charges and his assets have been seized as the proceeds of crime.

Seems Schmitz has a fetish for Mercedes-Benzes dating back to his entry in the Gumball 3000 in 2001. His effort was serious netting him first place with his Mercedes Benz S600 Brabus SV12 Megacar complete with its own G55 AMG support vehicle. After the recent police raid at his massive New Zealand mansion, we see that Kim Dotcom had nearly every new Benz in the lineup except for the lowly B-Class. In addition to the fleet of black Benzes, there was a classic pink Cadillac, a Mini Clubman and the stately Rolls Royce Phantom Drophead Coupe.

Should these cars be seized permanently, it looks as if the New Zealand auction houses will be set ablaze with loads of new product. Check out the wild collection (and the hilarious custom licence plates) in our gallery and check out the vid of Kimble in action video after the break.