PITTSBURGH — A sophisticated cybercriminal network behind the GozNym malware, responsible for attempting to steal $100 million from U.S. businesses and financial institutions, has been dismantled in a sweeping international operation. The group infected tens of thousands of computers across the United States and Europe, using malicious software to siphon login credentials and empty bank accounts with surgical precision. The Department of Justice announced the takedown as one of the most coordinated global responses to transnational cybercrime to date.
Charges were unsealed in Pittsburgh against 10 members of the GozNym criminal conspiracy, with an eleventh already indicted in a related case. All are accused of conspiracy to commit computer fraud, wire and bank fraud, and money laundering. Victims were primarily American companies, including multiple businesses in the Western District of Pennsylvania. The malware allowed hackers to hijack online banking sessions, transfer funds to accounts they controlled, and launder the stolen money across international borders.
The defendants reside in Russia, Georgia, Ukraine, Moldova, and Bulgaria. Among them is Krasimir Nikolov, aka “pablopicasso,” “salvadordali,” and “karlo,” of Varna, Bulgaria, who was arrested at the request of U.S. authorities. The indictments were returned by a federal grand jury in Pittsburgh and unsealed today as part of a synchronized legal and law enforcement action across multiple jurisdictions.
This unprecedented joint operation involved the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Pennsylvania, the FBI’s Pittsburgh Field Office, and law enforcement agencies from Georgia, Ukraine, Moldova, Germany, and Bulgaria. Europol and Eurojust played pivotal roles in coordinating intelligence sharing and cross-border investigations. Public Prosecutor’s Office Verden (Germany) and the Republic of Bulgaria’s General Directorate for Combatting Organized Crime were instrumental in field operations.
“International law enforcement has recognized that the only way to truly disrupt and defeat transnational, anonymized networks is to do so in partnership,” said U.S. Attorney Scott W. Brady, announcing the takedown at Europol’s headquarters in The Hague. FBI Pittsburgh Special Agent in Charge Robert Jones added, “Our adversaries know that we are weakest along the seams — this case is a fantastic example of what we can accomplish collectively.”
The GozNym operation marks a turning point in cybercrime prosecution — with simultaneous charges filed across four countries. Authorities say the collaboration sets a new standard for dismantling digital syndicates that operate beyond any single nation’s reach. The victims, many of whom faced devastating financial losses, may finally see justice as the global web of cybercriminals begins to unravel.
Related Federal Cases
- Ukrainian Hacker Pleads Guilty to Massive Hacking Scheme · New Jersey
- Luxury Auto Ring Busted in Charlotte · Mississippi
- Gun Trafficking Ring Busted in Philly · South Carolina
- Bulgarian Hacker Krasimir Nikolov Charged in $1.5M GozNym Scheme · Pennsylvania
- DOJ Targets ‘Operation Wire’ Cybercrime Ring in Pittsburgh · Pennsylvania
Key Facts
- State: Pennsylvania
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Cybercrime
- Source: Official Source ↗
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