The U.S. government has charged a top member of the LockBit ransomware group as part of their efforts to go after those responsible for the group's cyber attacks.
Federal prosecutors have brought 26 charges against Dmitry Yuryevich Khoroshev in New Jersey for his supposed involvement in establishing and advancing the LockBit group since September 2019. The announcement of the indictment was made on Tuesday..
LockBit, a network of criminals, was responsible for over 20 percent of the almost 4,000 global cyber attacks last year, where ransomware groups shared stolen data from victims to demand money.
Khoroshev, 31, from Voronezh, Russia, reportedly earned around $100 million from extorted money by devising the LockBit ransomware code, recruiting group members, and giving them the tools to carry out LockBit attacks, according to the DOJ.
U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger for the District of New Jersey stated, “Dmitry Khoroshev came up with and managed Lockbit, the most common form of ransomware and group globally, allowing himself and his associates to cause chaos and inflict billions of dollars in damage on thousands of victims worldwide.”
The indictment was unveiled on Tuesday, following the disruption of LockBit in February by U.S. law enforcement alongside the U.K National Crime Agency’s Cyber Division, who took control of its servers and disrupted its ability to carry out attacks and encrypt networks.
In February, authorities allegedly found evidence that Khoroshev kept copies of data stolen from ransom payers, despite assuring victims that the data would be deleted once the ransom was paid.
Attorney General Merrick Garland stated, “Today we are taking an additional step by charging the person who we believe created and managed this harmful cyber plot, which targeted over 2,000 victims and extorted over $100 million in ransom payments.”
Khoroshev is additionally accused of reaching out to law enforcement after the February seizure and offering to reveal the identities of his ransomware rivals in exchange for assistance, as per prosecutors.
He is facing 26 charges, which could result in a maximum penalty of 185 years in prison and fines of up to $250,000.
The U.S. Treasury Department imposed sanctions against Khoroshev on Tuesday. The U.S. Treasury Department also imposed sanctions against Khoroshev on Tuesday. The State Department announced in February that it is providing rewards of up to $15 million for information leading to the identification, location, arrest, or conviction of individuals linked to LockBit’s attacks.
Including Khoroshev, a total of six LockBit members have been indicted for their alleged role in the ransomware attack, the DOJ said. The U.S. government has charged a top member of the LockBit ransomware group as part of their efforts to go after those responsible for the group's cyber attacks. Dmitry Yuryevich Khoroshev is facing 26 charges in New Jersey for his supposed involvement in establishing and advancing the LockBit group since September 2019. for information that leads to the identification, location, arrest or conviction of any individual allegedly involved in LockBit’s attacks.
Including Khoroshev, a total of six LockBit members have been indicted for their alleged role in the ransomware attack, the DOJ said.
