A Ukrainian national, Yaroslav Vasinskyi, has been sentenced to 13 years and seven months in prison and ordered to pay over $16 million in restitution for his involvement in conducting over 2,500 ransomware attacks and demanding more than $700 million in ransom payments. Attorney General Merrick B. Garland emphasized the Department's commitment to holding cybercriminals accountable, stating, "As this sentencing shows, the Justice Department is working with our international partners and using all tools at our disposal to identify cybercriminals, capture their illicit profits, and hold them accountable for their crimes."
Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco highlighted the global reach of the Justice Department in combating cybercrime, stating, "Deploying the REvil ransomware variant, the defendant reached out across the globe to demand hundreds of millions of dollars from U.S. victims." FBI Director Christopher Wray commended the collaboration with international partners in ensuring that cybercriminals face consequences for their actions, stating, "We will continue to relentlessly pursue cyber criminals like Vasinksyi wherever they may hide, while we disrupt their criminal schemes, seize their money and infrastructure, and target their enablers and criminal associates to the fullest extent of the law."
Yaroslav Vasinskyi, also known as Rabotnik, utilized the Sodinokibi/REvil ransomware variant to conduct thousands of ransomware attacks, encrypting data on victim computers and demanding ransom payments in cryptocurrency. Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Nicole M. Argentieri described Vasinskyi's actions as hacking into thousands of computers worldwide, demanding over $700 million in ransom payments, and threatening to disclose victims' data if ransom demands were not met. U.S. Attorney Leigha Simonton emphasized the readiness of law enforcement in dismantling cybercriminal enterprises, stating, "When you hit targets in the United States, the Justice Department and its partners will come after you."
Vasinskyi had previously pleaded guilty to multiple charges and was extradited to the United States from Poland. The Department also obtained the final forfeiture of millions of dollars' worth of ransom payments related to the case. The Justice Department's Office of International Affairs collaborated with Polish authorities to secure Vasinskyi's extradition.
The FBI conducted the investigation, with Senior Counsel Frank Lin and Assistant U.S. Attorney Tiffany H. Eggers prosecuting the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Dimitri N. Rocha assisted with related civil forfeiture cases.