Sorry, I dont believe this for one second. You mean to tell me that this person was given an assignment to "de-annonymize" someone in public, and then coincidentally runs into someone at a coffee shop who very loudly provides:
1. Name
2. Address
3. CC Number
4. PWD's to accounts
While on a phone call, at a coffee shop?!
The professor, the NY Times, and NPR, are all fools if they believe this way too convenient series of events. gauranteed if this "guy in a coffee shop" is even real, he has some connection to the student.