Russian Man Facing 20+ Years for $200M Ransomware Scheme

• The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) has indicted a Russian man who allegedly participated in deploying multiple ransomware schemes in the United States and around the world that netted up to $200 million.
• Mikhail Pavlovich Matveev faces charges of conspiring to transmit ransom demands, conspiring to damage protected computers and intentionally damaging protected computers.
• If convicted, Matveev could spend over 20 years behind bars.

Russian Man Facing Over 20 Years Behind Bars

The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) has indicted a Russian man, Mikhail Pavlovich Matveev, for allegedly participating in deploying multiple ransomware schemes in the United States and around the world that netted up to $200 million. Matveev faces charges of conspiring to transmit ransom demands, conspiring to damage protected computers and intentionally damaging protected computers; if convicted, he could spend over 20 years behind bars.

How Was He Caught?

Matveev and his conspirators allegedly accessed numerous vulnerable computer systems via hacking or illegally purchased credentials between 2020 and 2022, according to the DOJ. They would then deploy one of three ransomware variants—LockBit, Babuk and Hive—enabling them to steal and encrypt data before issuing victims a ransom note; if victims failed to pay their private data was often posted online.

High Profile Victims

Matteev’s ransomware deployments allegedly issued up to $400 million worth of ransom demands and secured up to $200 million in payments; some high profile victims included public sector agencies such as law enforcement organizations like the Metropolitan Police Department in Washington D.C..

U.S Attorney on Indictment

Philip R Sellinger, U.S Attorney for District of New Jersey commented on the indictment saying “From Russia and hiding behind multiple aliases, Matveev is alleged to have used these ransomware strains to encrypt and hold hostage for ransom the data of numerous victims…Thanks to the extraordinary investigative work of prosecutors from my office and our FBI partners…we have publicly identified his criminal acts.”

Conclusion

Mateev is now facing over 20 years behind bars if found guilty for his involvement with multiple ransomware schemes across the US that netted up $200 million dollars worth of payments; he was caught due using various hacking techniques along with illegally purchased credentials between 2020-2022 before deploying three different types of ransomware variants against unsuspecting victims including public sector agencies such as law enforcement organisations which sometimes resulted in stolen/encrypted data being released online unless payment was made by victim(s).