Russian national, Denis Mihaqlovic Dubnikov, who pleaded guilty to charges of money laundering for the Ryuk ransomware group has been sentenced to time served.
Dubnikov was arrested in the Netherlands in November 2021 and extradited to the United States in August 2022. He was accused of laundering money for the cybercrime gang from 2018 until August 2021.
According to the Justice Department, Dubnikov laundered $400,000 worth of cryptocurrency obtained by the ransomware group from a victim in the United States. Dubnikov and other members of the conspiracy allegedly laundered a total of at least $70 million in ransom proceeds.
Additionally, the Ryuk ransomware group, which emerged in 2018, was one of the most active until it was gradually replaced by Conti in 2020 and 2021.
Although Dubnikov faced up to 20 years in prison, he has been sentenced to time served and ordered to pay $2,000 in restitution. The Russian national was charged with one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering.
Researchers estimated that the Ryuk criminal enterprise had been worth $150 million in early 2021.
At the same time, this case highlights the global nature of cybercrime and the challenges law enforcement agencies face in tracking and prosecuting cybercriminals. The ease with which cryptocurrency can be laundered presents an additional challenge.
The U.S. government has been making efforts to crack down on ransomware groups and their activities, and Dubnikov’s sentence serves as a reminder that those who engage in such activities will be held accountable.
