Two foreign nationals, Ruslan Magomedovich Astamirov and Mikhail Vasiliev, have pleaded guilty to charges related to their involvement in the LockBit ransomware group. LockBit has been one of the most destructive ransomware variants globally, attacking thousands of victims across over 120 countries, including the United States. The defendants were responsible for deploying LockBit ransomware, which led to substantial financial losses and operational disruptions for numerous organizations.
Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco highlighted that these convictions underscore the Department of Justice’s commitment to disrupting ransomware threats and holding cybercriminals accountable. The successful plea agreements come as part of a broader strategy to dismantle ransomware operations, demonstrated earlier this year by seizing LockBit infrastructure and providing decryption keys to victims. This action sends a strong message to ransomware actors that they will be pursued and prosecuted.
Astamirov and Vasiliev’s guilty pleas follow recent international efforts to combat LockBit. Authorities, including the U.K. National Crime Agency and other global partners, have significantly disrupted LockBit’s operations. This includes the seizure of critical servers and public-facing websites used by the group, which has weakened its ability to attack and extort further victims.
Astamirov faces up to 25 years in prison, while Vasiliev could receive a maximum of 45 years. Both defendants have been charged with various offenses related to computer fraud and abuse. The convictions reflect the ongoing global effort to bring cybercriminals to justice and protect victims from ransomware attacks.
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