On July 21, the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) announced that two foreigners have admitted to being involved in the Lockbit ransomware organization in the Newark Federal Court. Russian citizen Ruslan Magomedovich Astamirov and Mikhail Vasilyev, who holds dual citizenship of Canada and Russia, were identified as members of the Lockbit organization. The group has been active since January 2020 and has targeted over 2,500 victims in 120 countries, extorting approximately $500 million in ransom. Their victims include hospitals, educational institutions, and businesses.
Astamirov and Vasiliev used Lockbit ransomware to encrypt and steal data, demanding ransom payments while threatening to expose information if their demands were not met. They were arrested in 2023 and 2022 respectively and could face up to 25 years and 45 years in prison. Previously, U.S. authorities had charged leaders of the Lockbit ransomware group and offered a $10 million reward for their arrest.