Mark Sokolovsky, Computer Intrusion, Texas 2024

AUSTIN, Texas – A Ukrainian national has been sentenced to a lengthy prison term for his role in a massive cybercrime scheme that compromised millions of user credentials worldwide.

Mark Sokolovsky, 28, was sentenced to 60 months in federal prison for one count of conspiracy to commit computer intrusion.

According to court documents, Sokolovsky conspired to operate the Raccoon Infostealer as a malware-as-a-service, or MaaS. Individuals who deployed Raccoon Infostealer to steal data from victims leased access to the malware for approximately $200 per month, paid for by cryptocurrency.

The malware was used to steal personal data from victim computers, including log-in credentials, financial information, and other personal records. Stolen information was used to commit financial crimes or was sold to others on cybercrime forums.

In March 2022, the FBI and law enforcement partners in Italy and the Netherlands dismantled the digital infrastructure supporting the Raccoon Infostealer, taking its then-existing version offline.

Sokolovsky was extradited from the Netherlands in February 2024 after being indicted for crimes related to fraud, money laundering, and aggravated identity theft.

As part of his plea in October, Sokolovsky agreed to forfeit $23,975 and pay at least $910,844.61 in restitution.

“Mark Sokolovsky was a key player in an international criminal conspiracy that victimized countless individuals by administering malware which made it cheaper and easier for even amateurs to commit complex cybercrimes,” said U.S. Attorney Jaime Esparza for the Western District of Texas.

The FBI’s Austin Cyber Task Force investigated the case with the assistance of the Department of the Army Criminal Investigation Division, the Austin Police Department, the Naval Criminal Investigative Service, the Round Rock Police Department, and the Texas Department of Public Safety.

Assistant U.S. Attorney G. Karthik Srinivasan prosecuted the case.

Victims of the Raccoon Infostealer can find more information at www.justice.gov/usao-wdtx/victim-assistance-raccoon-infostealer.

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