U.S. Sentences Ransomware Access Broker to 81 Months, Charges BlackCat Negotiator
Summary
Aleksei Volkov was sentenced to 81 months for facilitating ransomware attacks that caused over $9 million in actual losses. Separately, prosecutors charged BlackCat negotiator Angelo Martino and seized nearly $9.2 million in cryptocurrency.
Key points
- Volkov pleaded guilty to facilitating dozens of ransomware attacks, including attacks involving the Yanluowang crew.
- He operated as an initial access broker, obtaining unauthorized network access and selling it to ransomware groups.
- Prosecutors reported more than $9 million in actual losses and over $24 million in intended losses.
- Volkov agreed to pay at least $9,167,198 in restitution to known victims and forfeit tools used in the crimes.
- Prosecutors charged Angelo Martino with negotiating for the BlackCat (ALPHV) gang and helping extort higher payouts from at least 10 victims.
- Authorities seized nearly $9.2 million in cryptocurrency from wallets controlled by Martino; DigitalMint said it terminated Martino and Kevin Martin.
Article Details
- Event Type
- Ransomware-related criminal sentencing and prosecution
- Impact
- Aleksei Olegovich Volkov was sentenced to 81 months in prison after pleading guilty to facilitating dozens of ransomware attacks. Prosecutors attributed more than $9 million in actual losses and over $24 million in intended losses to his conduct; he agreed to pay at least $9,167,198 in restitution and forfeit tools used in the crimes. Separately, Angelo Martino was charged with helping BlackCat affiliates extort higher payouts from at least 10 victims. Authorities seized nearly $9.2 million in cryptocurrency from wallets controlled by Martino, and DigitalMint terminated employees implicated in the matter.
MITRE ATT&CK
Threat Actors
Aleksei Olegovich VolkovHe pleaded guilty to acting as an initial access broker who obtained and sold unauthorized network access that co-conspirators used in dozens of ransomware attacks.ALPHVThe article explicitly identifies ALPHV as another name for the BlackCat ransomware gang.Angelo MartinoProsecutors charged him with acting as a negotiator for BlackCat and helping its threat actors extort higher payouts from at least 10 victims.BlackCatThe article identifies BlackCat as a ransomware gang involved in the attacks and states that BlackCat is also known as ALPHV.Kevin Tyler MartinThe article says he pleaded guilty to his role as a BlackCat affiliate.Ryan GoldbergThe article says he pleaded guilty to his role as a BlackCat affiliate.YanluowangThe article identifies Yanluowang as a ransomware crew whose attacks Volkov helped facilitate.