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Tag: ryuk ransomware

5 articles

Federal courthouse interior with defendant seated in courtroom.

US Sentences Ryuk Ransomware Operator to 2 Years in Prison

Meet Karen Vardanyan, a 35-year-old Armenian national who was sentenced to 2 years in prison for his role in the notorious Ryuk ransomware scheme, after pleading guilty to computer fraud and conspiracy to commit fraud and extortion. He was also ordered to pay around $1.2 million in restitution to victims.

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Empty chair faces judge's bench in a US courthouse interior.

Ryuk Ransomware Operative Draws 2-Year Prison Term

An Armenian man has been sentenced to 2 years in prison and 3 years of supervised release for his role in a string of devastating Ryuk ransomware attacks on US companies. He was found guilty of hacking and encrypting systems, causing significant disruption and financial loss.

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Defendant Karen Serobovich Vardanyan sits somberly in a US federal courtroom.

Ryuk Ransomware Operative Pleads Guilty in US Court

A major player behind the notorious Ryuk Ransomware gang has taken responsibility for their crimes, with Karen Serobovich Vardanyan, a 34-year-old Armenian national, pleading guilty in a US court to conspiracy and computer fraud. As part of his plea deal, Vardanyan will pay over $1.1m in restitution for his role in the massive cyberattack that netted over $15m in bitcoin payments.

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Man sits somberly in a courtroom or government agency setting, hands clasped or holding a document.

Armenian National Pleads Guilty to Ryuk Ransomware Conspiracy

Karen Serobovich Vardanyan, an Armenian national, has pleaded guilty to conspiracy charges for his role in a massive Ryuk ransomware scheme that raked in over $15 million in ransom payments from US-based organizations. The guilty plea marks a major win in the fight against cybercrime, as Vardanyan admitted to his part in the global extortion plot.

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Formal courthouse interior with documents and law enforcement items under daylight.

Ryuk Ransomware Operative Pleads Guilty, Faces 15-Year Sentence

A 34-year-old Armenian man, Karen Serobovich Vardanyan, has pleaded guilty to masterminding a brazen ransomware scheme that raked in around $15 million by infiltrating hundreds of computer networks and deploying Ryuk ransomware. Vardanyan's guilty plea comes after his extradition from Ukraine, where he was arrested in April 2025.

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