Brooklyn Man Pleads Guilty in $6M Cyber Heist

Brooklyn resident Vyacheslav Khaimov, 55, admitted today to running an unlicensed money transmitting business as part of a sprawling international cybercrime ring that stole over $1.2 million from American bank accounts. The guilty plea, entered in federal court in Brooklyn, marks a significant break in a case involving sophisticated malware, wire fraud, and a network of domestic money mules funneling illicit funds overseas.

Court documents reveal that co-conspirators deployed advanced malware to infiltrate victims’ bank accounts—mostly held at U.S. financial institutions—then siphoned funds via wire transfers to intermediaries across the country. Khaimov, operating out of Brooklyn, received more than $230,000 in stolen money through wire transfers and cashier’s checks from these intermediaries, known as ‘mules,’ before relaying the cash further into the criminal pipeline.

Federal investigators have traced over $1.2 million in actual losses tied directly to the malware operation, with more than $6 million in attempted thefts thwarted through ongoing law enforcement intervention. The scheme exploited vulnerabilities in digital banking systems, allowing cybercriminals abroad to orchestrate U.S.-based transfers with precision and speed.

“Modern-day bank robbers no longer need a gunman and a getaway driver. Today, they just need a malware operator and money mules to carry out their crime from anywhere in the world,” said FBI Assistant Director-in-Charge William F. Sweeney, Jr. “Brooklyn-based Vyacheslav Khaimov, pleaded guilty for his role as a money mule in a multi-million dollar malware scheme where he moved funds from victim accounts into other accounts. This is an ongoing investigation conducted by the FBI’s Cyber Task Force. We will continue to investigate all co-conspirators and bring them to justice. “

U.S. Attorney Robert L. Capers emphasized the broader threat posed by such operations: “The proliferation of malicious software is a scourge on our society. Cybercriminal networks like the network that the defendant allegedly was a part of are responsible for pillaging innocent victims’ bank accounts and wreaking havoc on our financial institutions through the use of malware. They will be pursued and prosecuted to the full extent of the law. “

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Una A. Dean, Tiana Demas, and Margaret Lee of the Eastern District of New York. Khaimov, identified under E.D.N.Y. Docket No. 17-CR-25 (ERK), faces significant prison time as federal authorities continue to dismantle the global network behind the attack.

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