PORTLAND, Ore.—Armenian national Karen Serobovich Vardanyan, 33, faces federal charges for his pivotal role in the Ryuk ransomware attacks that shook U.S. companies, including one in Oregon.
Vardanyan was extradited from Ukraine on June 18, 2025, and charged with conspiracy, fraud in connection with computers, and extortion in connection with computers. He’s alleged to have deployed Ryuk ransomware across hundreds of servers and workstations, holding companies ransom for over $15 million in Bitcoin.
Between March 2019 and September 2020, Vardanyan and his co-conspirators are accused of disrupting critical infrastructure, hospitals, and more by encrypting data and demanding payment. Levon Georgiyovych Avetisyan, 45, and Oleg Nikolayevich Lyulyava, 53, both Armenians, and Andrii Leonydovich Prykhodchenko, 53, a Ukrainian national, face similar charges. Avetisyan is sought in France for extradition.
Vardanyan pleaded not guilty during his first appearance on June 20, 2025, with trial set for August 26, 2025. Conviction could mean up to five years in federal prison and a fine of $250,000 per count.
The FBI is leading the investigation, while Assistant U.S. Attorney Katherine A. Rykken is prosecuting. The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs played a key role in Vardanyan’s arrest and extradition.
Remember: An indictment is merely an accusation, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless proven guilty.
Related Federal Cases
- Portland Drug Kingpin Gets 15-Year Sentence · Massachusetts
- Portland Drug Kingpin Sentenced to Over Six Years · Massachusetts
- Roseburg Drug Kingpin Sentenced to 20 Years · Oregon
- Owen Gets 30 Months: Portland Strip Club Brothel Kingpin Sentenced · Oregon
- Portland Drug Kingpin Lupercio-Quezada Convicted · Oregon
Key Facts
- State: Oregon
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Cybercrime|Organized Crime
- Source: Official Source ↗
🔒 Get the grimiest stories delivered weekly. Subscribe free →
Browse More
MORE FEDERAL CRIME NEWS
US NewsUS NewsUS NewsUS News