The U.S. Justice Department has charged a Russian national with creating and running the LockBit ransomware group, which has targeted over 2,000 victims and extorted more than $100 million in ransom payments. Dimitry Yuryevich Khoroshev, also known as LockBitSupp, faces a 26-count indictment in the District of New Jersey.
Attorney General Merrick B. Garland stated, "Today we are going a step further, charging the individual who we allege developed and administered this malicious cyber scheme." FBI Director Christopher Wray emphasized the FBI's commitment to disrupting ransomware organizations and holding perpetrators accountable.
Khoroshev allegedly led the LockBit ransomware group, which attacked more than 2,500 victims in 120 countries, causing billions of dollars in losses. He is accused of designing LockBit as a "ransomware-as-a-service" model, profiting from ransom payments extorted from victims.
The disruption of LockBit in February 2024 led to the seizure of infrastructure, greatly reducing the group's ability to target and extort victims. Khoroshev now faces charges that could result in a maximum penalty of 185 years in prison.