Daniel Christian Hulea, Ransomware Attacks, Florida 2023
A Romanian man was sentenced to 20 years in prison for his role in the NetWalker ransomware attacks that resulted in the payment of millions of dollars in ransoms.
Daniel Christian Hulea, 30, of Jucu de Mijloc, Cluj, Romania, was sentenced to 20 years in prison and ordered to forfeit $21,500,000 and his interests in an Indonesian limited liability company and associated luxury resort property under construction in Bali, Indonesia.
Hulea was also ordered to pay $14,991,580.01 in restitution for his role in the conspiracy to use a sophisticated form of ransomware known as NetWalker.
The NetWalker ransomware has been used to target hundreds of victims all over the world, including companies, municipalities, hospitals, law enforcement, emergency services, school districts, colleges, and universities.
Hulea admitted to using NetWalker to obtain approximately 1,595 bitcoin in ransom payments for himself and a co-conspirator, valued at approximately $21,500,000 at the time of the payments.
Hulea was arrested in Cluj, Romania, on July 11, 2023, pursuant to a request submitted by U.S. authorities.
He was subsequently extradited to the United States pursuant to the extradition treaty between the United States and Romania.
The FBI Tampa Field Office investigated the case, and the Justice Department's Office of International Affairs provided valuable assistance in securing Hulea's arrest and extradition.
Hulea pleaded guilty to computer fraud conspiracy and wire fraud conspiracy in the Middle District of Florida on June 20, 2023.
Key Facts
- State: Federal
- Category: Cybercrime
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
ðŸâ€Â’ Get the grimiest stories delivered weekly. Subscribe free →