US authorities have charged an alleged member of a notorious Russian cybercrime organization, according to the US Department of Justice.
The accused, Deniss Zolotarjovs, 33, originally from Moscow, Russia, faces charges of conspiracy to commit money laundering, wire fraud, and Hobbs Act extortion following his extradition to the United States.
Zolotarjovs is said to have been an integral part of a cybercriminal group responsible for global cyberattacks targeting computer systems of various victims. The group is known for stealing sensitive data and demanding ransom payments in cryptocurrency, threatening to publicly release the stolen information if their demands are not met.
Zolotarjovs was apprehended by law enforcement authorities in the country of Georgia in December 2023, where he has remained in custody since his arrest. His extradition to the United States marks the first time a member of this particular cybercrime group has been successfully brought to the US to face charges.
Court documents reveal that Zolotarjovs played an active role in the operations of the cybercrime group, engaging in communication with other members, laundering cryptocurrency obtained from the group's victims, and participating in extortion schemes. The group also maintains a website that lists the companies it has targeted, and offers the stolen data for download.