Charged: Russian Karakurt Ransomware Gang Member in Ransom Payment Crime

TLDR:

Member of Russian cybercrime group charged for money laundering, wire fraud, and extortion. First alleged group member extradited to the United States after being arrested in Georgia. FBI offices in various cities played vital roles in the investigation. Indictment contains allegations, and the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty.

Full Article:

A member of a notorious Russian cybercrime group has been charged federally and appeared in U.S. District Court in Cincinnati. Deniss Zolotarjovs, 33, of Moscow, Russia, has been indicted on charges of conspiring to commit money laundering, wire fraud, and Hobbs Act extortion. Zolotarjovs is accused of being an active member of the Russian cybercrime group, communicating with other members, laundering cryptocurrency received from victims, and extorting victims. He is the first alleged group member to be extradited to the United States after being detained in Georgia in December 2023.

Zolotarjovs is a member of a known cybercriminal organization that attacks computer systems worldwide, stealing victim data and threatening to release it unless a ransom in cryptocurrency is paid. The group operates a leaks and auction website that lists victim companies and offers stolen data for download. The FBI offices in Cleveland, San Diego, Richmond, and Salt Lake City were involved in the investigation, with assistance from officials in Georgia for Zolotarjovs’s extradition. An indictment merely contains allegations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law.

The charges were announced by Kenneth L. Parker, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio, and Elena Iatarola, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI, Cincinnati Division. Assistant United States Attorney Megan Gaffney Painter is representing the United States in this case, with significant assistance from the Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs in securing Zolotarjovs’s extradition from Georgia.

Overall, the case highlights the ongoing efforts by law enforcement to combat cybercrime and bring perpetrators to justice, demonstrating the global collaboration needed to address these threats in today’s digital age.