Roman Vitalyevich Ostapenko, Alexander Evgenievich Oleynik, and Anton Vyachlavovich Tarasov have been indicted by a federal grand jury for their roles in operating the cryptocurrency mixing services Blender.io and Sinbad.io. These platforms were allegedly used by criminals globally to launder funds obtained through ransomware, virtual currency thefts, and other crimes.
U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Buchanan stated, "This indictment demonstrates our continued commitment to dismantling infrastructure used by cybercriminals to steal from Americans and hide their ill-gotten gains."
According to Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Brent S. Wible of the Justice Department's Criminal Division, the defendants operated cryptocurrency mixers that served as safe havens for laundering criminally derived funds. "By allegedly operating these mixers, the defendants made it easier for state-sponsored hacking groups and other cybercriminals to profit from offenses that jeopardized both public safety and national security," Wible said.
Sean Burke, Acting Special Agent in Charge of FBI Atlanta, highlighted the success in dismantling Sinbad.io with international assistance last year but emphasized ongoing efforts to hold responsible individuals accountable. "These indictments serve as a testament to the power of international cooperation," Burke noted.
Blender.io was operational from 2018 until 2022 and advertised itself on an internet forum with a "No Logs Policy." After its shutdown, Sinbad.io began offering similar Bitcoin concealment services until law enforcement action took it down on November 27, 2023.
Both Blender.io and Sinbad.io have been sanctioned by the Department of Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC). OFAC sanctioned Blender.io on May 6, 2022, citing its use by North Korea for laundering stolen virtual currency. Similarly, Sinbad.io was sanctioned on November 29, 2023.
Ostapenko faces charges including conspiracy to commit money laundering and operating an unlicensed money transmitting business. Oleynik is charged with conspiracy to commit money laundering along with operating an unlicensed business. Tarasov also faces similar charges but remains at large.
The Netherlands’ Public Prosecution Service contributed significantly to this case alongside Australian Federal Police and Finland’s National Bureau of Investigation.
The investigation is being conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The prosecution team includes Assistant U.S. Attorney Samir Kaushal and Trial Attorney Ethan Cantor among others.
For more information contact U.S. Attorney’s Public Affairs Office at USAGAN.PressEmails@usdoj.gov or (404) 581-6016.