Cash-out Crew Manager Sentenced to 21 Months in Prison

A Massachusetts man has been sentenced to 21 months in prison for using information hacked from customer accounts at more than a dozen banks, brokerage firms, payroll processing companies and government agencies in a plot to steal $15 million.

Robert Dubuc, 41, of Malden, Mass., previously pleaded guilty to charge of wire fraud conspiracy and conspiracy to commit access device fraud and identity theft.

According to court documents, Dubuc and 50-year-old Oleg Pidtergerya of Brooklyn – who has also pleaded guilty – were asked by leaders of the conspiracy to participate in a “cash-out” scheme to help steal money from compromised bank accounts. Pidtergerya managed a cash-out crew in New York for the cyber-ring’s leaders while Dubuc controlled a cash-out crew in Massachusetts for the organization.

Authorities believe Oleksiy Sharapka, 34, of Kiev, Ukraine, directed the conspiracy with the help of Leonid Yanovitsky, 39, also of Kiev.

According to authorities, hackers gained unauthorized access to the bank accounts of customers of more than a dozen organizations ranging from Citibank to E-Trade to the U.S. Department of Defense. After obtaining access to the bank accounts, Sharapka and Yanovitsky allegedly diverted money to bank accounts and pre-paid debit cards they controlled. They then turned to the cash-out crews to withdraw the stolen funds, authorities said.

Both Sharapka and Yanovitsky are under indictment in the United States and remain at large, according to the U.S. Department of Justice.

In addition to the prison term, Judge Sheridan sentenced Dubuc to serve three years of supervised release and pay restitution in the amount of $338,685. Sentencing for Pidtergerya is scheduled for Dec. 22.