Dimitry Khoroshev, LockBit Ransomware, New Jersey 2024
ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. - A devastating cybercrime trend has left victims reeling, with a recent 11-nation disruption of LockBit, a ransomware variant that has wreaked havoc on individuals, small businesses, and multinational corporations alike.
According to the U.S. Attorney's Office in the District of New Jersey, LockBit's developer and leader, Russian national Dimitry Khoroshev, has been indicted for his role in the conspiracy. The indictment alleges that Khoroshev acted as LockBit's leader from its inception and that LockBit allegedly attacked more than 2,500 victims in at least 120 countries, including 1,800 victims in the United States.
LockBit victims included individuals, small businesses, multinational corporations, hospitals, schools, nonprofit organizations, critical infrastructure, and government and law enforcement agencies. Khoroshev and his conspirators allegedly extracted at least $500 million in ransom payments from their victims and caused billions of dollars in broader losses, such as lost revenue, incident response, and recovery.
U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger participated on a panel at the 2024 New Jersey State Bar Association conference, where he discussed the recent spike in cryptocurrency confidence scams, tech support schemes, and the impact of these crimes on the community.
To date, six individuals, including Khoroshev, have been charged by the U.S. Attorney's Office in the District of New Jersey for their participation in the LockBit conspiracy. The charges and allegations against the defendants in the LockBit case are merely accusations, and they are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
The U.S. Attorney's Office remains devoted to combatting all forms of cybercrime and obtaining justice for its victims. In this case, the indictment serves as a warning to those who would seek to exploit the vulnerabilities of our digital world.
The charges against Dimitry Khoroshev include participation in a transnational conspiracy to commit computer fraud and abuse, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1030. Khoroshev remains at large, and his current status is unknown.
Key Facts
- State: New Jersey
- Category: Cybercrime
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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