CALGARY -- The computer genius known as the Analyzer will face U.S. justice, not the Canadian legal system, on allegations he spearheaded a worldwide credit-card scam.

Ehud Tenenbaum, who once hacked into the Pentagon and NASA, yesterday consented to his surrender to U.S. marshals under the Extradition Act.

Department of justice prosecutor David Gates said Tenenbaum has effectively waived his right to be sent to the U.S., subject to ministerial approval.

"He has given up his right to a formal extradition hearing," Gates said, following the brief proceeding in Calgary Court of Queen's Bench.

Defence lawyer Hersh Wolch said Tenenbaum decided to face the music in New York state, rather than wallow in a Canadian jail while the extradition process took place.

Wolch said his client didn't care where he was tried, as long as a decision was made where.

He conceded sentences are generally more harsh in the U.S., but didn't have a lot of details on the U.S. allegations.

"I'm not sure how serious the American offences are compared to the Canadian ones."

Wolch said one advantage of Tenenbaum's extradition is U.S. officials must proceed on the charges as they are worded in the application, and new ones can't be added.

"The prosecution is limited to the charges in the extradition order," he said.

Wolch said his client is hoping to be transferred to the U.S. as soon as possible.

KEVIN.MARTIN@SUNMEDIA.CA