U.S. Sentences Russian Hacker to 6.75 Years for Role in $9M Ransomware Damage

A Russian hacker was sentenced to 6.75 years in U.S. prison for facilitating ransomware attacks causing over $9 million in losses.

• •Aleksei Olegovich Volkov, 26, acted as an initial access broker, selling unauthorized network access to ransomware groups including Yanluowang.
• •He exploited vulnerabilities to gain network access, enabling co-conspirators to deploy malware that encrypted victims' data.
• •Ransom demands sometimes reached tens of millions of dollars in cryptocurrency; Volkov received a share of each payment.
• •He was charged with computer fraud, access device fraud, identity theft, and money laundering conspiracy, and must pay $9.16M in restitution.
• •Separately, Angelo Martino was charged as a ransomware negotiator for BlackCat/ALPHV gang; nearly $9.2M in crypto was seized from his wallets.