Texas FBI agents were involved in an investigation into a suspect for computer fraud and money laundering that led to the seizure of millions of dollars in assets.
The Northern District of Texas has charged Ianis Aleksandrovich Antropenko for conspiring to commit computer fraud and abuse and conspiracy to commit money laundering.
The investigation resulted in the Department of Justice authorizing the seizure of over $2.8 million in cryptocurrency from a wallet owned by Antropenko, $70,000 in cash, and a luxury vehicle.
The indictment states that Antropenko leveraged ransomware to attack individuals, businesses, and organizations around the world. The assets seized are thought to be proceeds derived from these attacks.
According to the Department of Justice, the latest ransomware involved laundering through a variety of methods, including via a now-disabled service called ChipMixer. The stolen cryptocurrency was then exchanged for cash.
The asset seizures were authorized for the Northern District of Texas, the Eastern District of Virginia, and the Central District of California. The FBI Dallas, as well as Norfolk Field Offices and the Virtual Assets Unit, are investigating the case.
As previously reported in The Dallas Express, the Dallas Central Appraisal District (DCAD) was the target of a ransomware attack in November 2022. After the perpetrators locked away DCAD records, the department eventually relented to demands and paid the cyberterrorists $170,000 in cryptocurrency to regain access.
