On Friday, the US Division of Justice introduced the indictment of Russian residents Roman Vitaliyevich Ostapenko, Alexander Yevgenievich Oleynik and Anton Vyachlavovich Tarasov, accusing them of operating providers that helped criminals launder cryptocurrencies.
The three had been allegedly concerned in working Bender.io and Sinbad.io, two cryptocurrency mixers “that served as secure havens for the laundering of prison proceeds, together with proceeds of ransomware and wire fraud,” mentioned Chief Deputy Assistant Lawyer Common Brent Wible , The top of the Felony Division of the Ministry of Justice mentioned this in a press launch.
Bender.io and Sinbad.io had been seized in 2023 as a part of a world enforcement operation and are suspected of being utilized by North Korean hackers who’ve realized to steal and launder hundreds of thousands of {dollars} in cryptocurrency, in addition to ransomware gangs that revenue from extorting monetary ransoms from hacked firms..
Ostapenko and Oleynik had been arrested on December 1, 2024, whereas Tarasov remains to be at giant, in keeping with a DOJ press launch.
The three “facilitated state-sponsored hacking teams and different cybercriminals to revenue from crimes that threatened each public security and nationwide safety,” in keeping with Wible.
Ostapenko is charged with cash laundering and working an unlicensed cash switch enterprise, whereas Oleynik, 44, and Tarasov are charged with conspiracy to commit cash laundering and one rely of working an unlicensed cash switch enterprise – all costs that might result in a sentence of 30 years in jail.
