A Russian national has been charged in the US for his alleged role in the Karakurt cybercrime gang, known for its data theft and extortion activities.
The man, Deniss Zolotarjovs, 33, of Moscow, Russia, was arrested in Georgia in December 2023 and has been in custody since. He was extradited to the US earlier this month.
Zolotarjovs, who appeared in a US District Court in Cincinnati this week, is charged with money laundering conspiracy, wire fraud, and Hobbs Act extortion.
According to documents presented in court, the Karakurt gang, which was associated with the infamous Conti group, has been hacking into the networks of organizations worldwide, stealing their data and threatening to release it publicly unless a ransom is paid.
Karakurt lists the victim’s name on a leak site, where it also auctions the stolen data, or offers it for download.
The gang has received hundreds of thousands of dollars in cryptocurrency payments from its victims, and Zolotarjovs was allegedly receiving and laundering the illicit funds, the documents show.
In a 2022 joint advisory, US government agencies revealed that Karakurt was demanding ransom payments ranging between $25,000 and $13 million, in Bitcoin.
The group, which has also operated under the names of TommyLeaks, Schoolboys Ransomware Gang, and Blockbit, was also harassing its victims by contacting employees, partners, and clients, in an effort to pressure them into paying a ransom.
In his role within Karakurt, Zolotarjovs was allegedly involved in the group’s extortion activities and communicated with other members of the gang.
“Zolotarjovs is the first alleged group member to be arrested and extradited to the United States,” the US Department of Justice notes.
Related: Vietnamese Members of FIN9 Hacking Group Charged in US
Related: Discount Retail Giant Pepco Loses €15 Million to Cybercriminals
Related: Poland Breaks up Russian Spy Ring
Related: NSA Cyber Specialist, Army Doctor Charged in US Spying Cases
