Mikhail Vasiliev, LockBit Ransomware, New Jersey 2022

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LOCKBIT RANSOMWARE: Russian National Charged in New Jersey

A Russian national has been charged with participating in the LockBit global ransomware campaign. Mikhail Vasiliev, 33, of Bradford, Ontario, Canada, was arrested on November 9, 2022.

LockBit is a ransomware variant that first appeared in January 2020 and has been deployed against over 1,000 victims in the United States and around the world. LockBit members have made at least $100 million in ransom demands to those victims and have extracted tens of millions of dollars in actual ransom payments from those victims.

“International ransomware threats like LockBit are the most pressing cybercrime challenge facing law enforcement today,” U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger said. “These attacks cause disruption and damage to their victims that far exceed the dollar figures of ransom demands or payments, which are themselves significant. However, the United States is up for this challenge and will use all legal means to find the perpetrators of these attacks and bring them to justice.”

Vasiliev participated in the LockBit campaign by conspiring with others to intentionally damage protected computers and to transmit ransom demands. He is awaiting extradition proceedings to bring him to the District of New Jersey.

The charge of conspiring to intentionally damage protected computers and to transmit ransom demands is punishable by a maximum of five years in prison and a maximum fine of $250,000, or twice the gross pecuniary gain or loss from the scheme, whichever is greatest.

The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorneys. U.S. Attorney Sellinger credited the Newark Cyber Crimes Task Force with the investigation leading to the charges.

The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs provided valuable assistance in securing Vasiliev’s arrest.

Mikhail Vasiliev is currently awaiting extradition proceedings. If convicted, he faces up to 5 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000, or twice the gross pecuniary gain or loss from the scheme, whichever is greatest.