Two Russian nationals have pleaded guilty in a U.S. court for their involvement in the LockBit ransomware scheme and aiding ransomware attacks globally.
The individuals are Ruslan Magomedovich Astamirov, 21, from Chechen Republic, and Mikhail Vasiliev, 34, a dual Canadian and Russian citizen from Bradford, Ontario.
Astamirov was apprehended in Arizona by U.S. authorities in May 2023. Vasiliev, who was already facing similar charges in Canada, has been sentenced to nearly four years in prison. He was extradited to the U.S. last month.
This development comes after the U.K. National Crime Agency (NCA) revealed a 31-year-old Russian national named Dmitry Yuryevich Khoroshev as the administrator and developer of the LockBit ransomware operation.
LockBit has targeted over 2,500 entities since late 2019, generating around $500 million in ransom payments.
Earlier this year, the e-crime syndicate suffered a setback as its online infrastructure was dismantled in a coordinated law enforcement operation named Cronos, although the group remains active.
According to the U.S. Justice Department, Vasiliev and Astamirov would identify vulnerable computer systems, deploy LockBit ransomware, steal and encrypt data, and demand ransom payments from victims in exchange for decrypting data.
Astamirov, also known as BETTERPAY, offtitan, and Eastfarmer, used LockBit against 12 victims between 2020 and 2023, receiving $1.9 million in ransom payments from victims in the U.S., Japan, France, Scotland, and Kenya.
He has pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit computer fraud and abuse, facing a maximum penalty of 25 years in prison.
Similarly, Vasiliev, operating under various aliases, deployed the ransomware against businesses in the U.S., U.K., and Switzerland, and faces up to 45 years in prison for his charges.
Both defendants are set to be sentenced on January 8, 2025. Khoroshev, who was charged with 26 counts earlier this May, remains at large.
FBI Special Agent James E. Dennehy emphasized that cybercriminals can be caught and brought to justice, challenging the misconception that they operate with impunity. He highlighted the importance of holding malicious actors accountable for their actions.
