Russian Charged With Laundering Ransomware Proceeds in Crypto Pleads Guilty in US
A Russian national accused of processing cryptocurrency payments from ransomware attacks has pleaded guilty to money laundering in the United States. The man who was extradited from the Netherlands in mid-August, last year, will be sentenced in April. Russian Crypto Launderer Pleads Guilty in US Court, May Get Up to 20 Years in Prison
An alleged money launderer from Russia has pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering in the United States. Denis Dubnikov, now 30, was arrested on Nov. 2, 2021 in Amsterdam, handed over by Dutch authorities on Aug. 16, 2022, and first appeared in federal court the next day.
The Russian and his accomplices have been laundering proceeds of Ryuk ransomware attacks on individuals and organizations in the U.S. and other countries between at least August 2018 and August 2021, according to court documents, quoted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Oregon. They made various financial transactions to conceal the source and ownership of the digital money.
“Specifically, in July 2019, a United States-based company paid a 250 bitcoin Ryuk ransom after a ransomware attack. On or about July 11, 2019, in Moscow, Russia, Dubnikov accepted 35 bitcoin from a co-conspirator in exchange for approximately $400,000,” detailed an announcement published Tuesday.
The cryptocurrency came directly from the ransom paid by the company. Dubnikov converted the bitcoin to tether and sent it to another individual, who eventually exchanged it for Chinese yuan. Dubnikov’s co-conspirators laundered more bitcoin and compensated him for his role.
Denis Dubnikov will be sentenced on April 11, 2023. The U.S. judicial authorities further noted that conspiracy to commit money laundering is punishable by up to 20 years in federal prison, three years’ supervised release, and a fine of $500,000.
Ryuk is a type of software that encrypts files on the targeted organization’s computers. First identified in 2018, the ransomware has been used against victims across the globe and from various sectors, including hospitals and healthcare providers in the United States. According to a recent report by blockchain forensics firm Chainalysis, revenue from ransomware attacks has decreased. Tags in this story Arrest, Charges, Court, Crypto, Cryptocurrencies, Cryptocurrency, Denis Dubnikov, Dubnikov, dutch, extradition, federal court, Guilty, Money Laundering, Netherlands, ransom, ransomware, Ransomware attacks, Russia, russian, Ryuk, U.S., US
Do you think cases like Dubnikov’s will result in a further drop in ransomware payments? Share your thoughts on the subject in the comments section below. Lubomir Tassev
Lubomir Tassev is a journalist from tech-savvy Eastern Europe who likes Hitchens’s quote: “Being a writer is what I am, rather than what I do.” Besides crypto, blockchain and fintech, international politics and economics are two other sources of inspiration. Three Arrows Capital Co-Founder Announces New Crypto Venture Open Exchange Amid Bankruptcy Controversy NEWS | 6 hours ago Moonpay and Looksrare Partner to Bring Convenient NFT Purchasing to the Masses NEWS | 20 hours ago
Image Credits: Shutterstock, Pixabay, Wiki Commons Previous articleBitget Expands Innovation Zone With Priority Access to Exceptional Projects Next articleBitcoin, Ethereum Technical Analysis: BTC, ETH Hit Multi-Week Low, as Sell-off Worsens Show comments More Popular NewsIn Case You Missed ItRipple CEO: SEC Lawsuit Over XRP "Has Gone Exceedingly Well"
The CEO of Ripple Labs says that the lawsuit brought by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) against him and his company over XRP "has gone exceedingly well." He stressed: "This case is important, not just for Ripple, it’s ... read more.Tony Hawk"s Latest NFTs to Come With Signed Physical Skateboards Fidelity Investments Launches Crypto, Metaverse ETFs — Says "We Continue to See Demand" Survey: Adoption in Argentina Grows, With 12 out of 100 Adults Having Invested in Crypto Ethereum Foundation"s Financial Report Discloses It Holds $1.6 Billion in Assets, 80.5% Held in Ether