Russian Cybercriminal Extradited to US in Crypto Crime Case

A Russian cybercriminal, Deniss Zolotarjovs, has been charged in the U.S. with crimes related to his involvement in a cybercrime organization known for extorting victims and laundering cryptocurrency. The 33-year-old Moscow resident was indicted in Cincinnati, Ohio, on charges of conspiracy to commit money laundering, wire fraud, and Hobbs Act extortion. Arrested in Georgia in December 2023 and recently extradited to the U.S., Zolotarjovs is accused of being a key member of a cybercriminal group that steals sensitive data from victims and demands ransom payments in cryptocurrency to prevent the release of the stolen information. The group also runs a website that leaks or auctions off stolen data. Zolotarjovs is alleged to have actively participated in laundering cryptocurrency from these ransom payments. This marks the first extradition of a member of this group to the U.S., highlighting international cooperation against cybercrime.