Tag: us department of justice
15 articles
US Charges Russian Nationals for Bulletproof Hosting Services
US authorities have charged three Russian nationals with operating illicit bulletproof hosting services that enabled cybercrime, affecting victims across 21 states, including banks, schools, hospitals, and media companies. The accused, Aleksandr Volosovik, Yulia Pankova, and Kirill Zatolokin, allegedly facilitated a range of malicious activities through their services.
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.
US Extradites 19-Year-Old Hacker to Face Charges
Meet Peter Stokes, a 19-year-old hacker who's in hot water after allegedly orchestrating over 100 network intrusions that raked in a staggering $100 million in ransom payments, leaving a trail of chaos for businesses and investigators to clean up. Stokes, a dual US and Estonian citizen, has been extradited from Finland to face federal charges of conspiracy, computer intrusion, and fraud.
US Seizes Huione Cloud Account Tied to $31 Billion Cyber Scam Laundering
The US Department of Justice has seized a cloud account linked to a staggering $31 billion cyber scam laundering operation, disrupting a vast online marketplace for fraud and money laundering. This massive crackdown targeted HuiOne Group, a Cambodia-based company accused of helping scammers launder billions through its subsidiaries.
US Seizes Deepfake Nude Sites in First TAKE IT DOWN Act Enforcement Action
In a groundbreaking move, the US Department of Homeland Security has seized two notorious deepfake nude sites, CFAKE.com and SOCFAKE.com, in the first-ever enforcement action under the TAKE IT DOWN Act. This bold operation, carried out in collaboration with Italy and France, has taken a significant step towards protecting online victims and holding perpetrators accountable.
US Disrupts Southeast Asia Crypto Fraud Networks, Freezes $3.8 Million
The US Department of Justice has struck a major blow against crypto fraudsters, freezing $3.8 million and disrupting a network of scam centers in Southeast Asia that prey on vulnerable Americans, wiping out life savings with devastating cyber-enabled investment scams. This crackdown is part of the Scam Center Strike Force initiative, aimed at protecting citizens from transnational criminal organizations.
Canada Arrests Kimwolf DDoS Botnet Operator in US-Led Crackdown
In a major cybercrime crackdown, a 23-year-old Canadian man, Jacob Butler, has been arrested and charged with operating the notorious Kimwolf DDoS botnet, which targeted vulnerable devices like digital photo frames and web cameras. If convicted, Butler faces up to 10 years in prison for aiding and abetting computer intrusion.
Botmaster 'Dort' Arrested in Canada, Charged in US Over Kimwolf Botnet
A 23-year-old Canadian man, known online as "Dort," has been arrested and charged for masterminding the massive Kimwolf botnet, which was linked to record-breaking DDoS attacks of nearly 30 Terabits per second. The suspect, Jacob Butler, is now in custody awaiting an initial court hearing.
US Indicts Suspected Dream Market Admin on Money Laundering Charges
A suspected administrator of the now-defunct Dream Market has been indicted in the US on 12 federal counts of money laundering, with the Department of Justice alleging he used cryptocurrency to buy gold bars and ship them to his home in Germany. If convicted, he faces up to 20 years in prison for each count.
Pharmacist Indicted for Spying on Co-Workers with Cyber Tools
A pharmacist in Maryland has been indicted for allegedly spying on nearly 200 coworkers and individuals over eight years using cyber tools, breaching trust and violating digital boundaries. Matthew Bathula faces federal charges for unauthorized computer access and aggravated identity theft.
US Sentences Two Cybersecurity Pros for BlackCat Ransomware Role
Two cybersecurity experts turned to a life of crime, using their specialized knowledge to extort victims through BlackCat ransomware attacks, and have been sentenced to four years in prison for their roles. Ryan Goldberg and Kevin Martin deployed the ransomware against multiple US victims between April and December 2023.
US Cybersecurity Workers Jailed for Aiding BlackCat Ransomware Gang
Meet Ryan Goldberg and Kevin Martin, two cybersecurity experts who abused their skills to line their pockets by aiding the notorious BlackCat ransomware gang. They've been sentenced to four years in prison for their roles in facilitating devastating ransomware attacks.
China's Silk Typhoon Hacker Extradited to US Over COVID Cyberattacks
A Chinese hacker, Xu Zewei, has been extradited to the US from Italy for masterminding a series of devastating cyberattacks on US universities, immunologists, and virologists working on COVID-19 vaccines, treatments, and testing between 2020 and 2021. He faces charges of wire fraud and conspiracy for his role in the attacks.
US Charges Chinese National in Silk Typhoon Cyber Attacks
A Chinese national, Xu Zewei, has been extradited to the US from Italy to face charges for his alleged role in the notorious HAFNIUM cyber attacks, a vast intrusion campaign that compromised over 12,700 US organizations. Xu's arrival in US court marks a significant step in holding him accountable for his actions.
Ex-FBI Chief Urges Homicide Charges for Ransomware Actors Tied to Patient Deaths
It's time to hold ransomware attackers accountable for their deadly actions - Cynthia Kaiser, ex-FBI chief, urges prosecutors to consider felony homicide charges when attacks on hospitals result in patient deaths. Closing the gap between crime severity and consequences is crucial, she stresses.