US charges Russian national allegedly involved in ransomware attacks US

WASHINGTON

The US announced Tuesday a reward of up to $10 million for the capture or conviction of a Russian national accused of launching ransomware attacks against American law enforcement, businesses, and critical infrastructure.

“Today, the State Department is announcing a reward offer, under the Transnational Organized Crime Rewards Program (TOCRP), of up to $10 million, for information leading to the arrest and/or conviction of Russian national Mikhail Pavlovich Matveev for transnational organized crime,” agency spokesperson Matthew Miller said in a statement.

“We are taking these actions Matveev for his role in ransomware incidents targeting U.S. law enforcement, businesses, and critical infrastructure around the world,” he added.

The Justice Department said separately that it unsealed two indictments against Matveev, including law enforcement agencies in Washington, D.C., and New Jersey, as well as victims in health care and other sectors nationwide.

“From his home base in Russia, Matveev allegedly used multiple ransomware variants to attack critical infrastructure around the world, including hospitals, government agencies, and victims in other sectors,” said Assistant Attorney General Kenneth A. Polite, Jr. of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division.

The Treasury Department also imposed financial sanctions on Matveev, calling him a “key actor in the Russian ransomware ecosystem,” recalling the Babuk ransomware against DC police on April 26, 2021.

“The hackers who infiltrated the police department’s computer network stole the home addresses, cellphone numbers, financial data, medical histories, and other personal details of police officers, along with sensitive information about gangs, suspects of crimes, and witnesses,” it said in a statement. “In a public interview, Matveev claimed responsibility for posting the police department’s stolen data online.”

“The United States will not tolerate ransomware attacks against our people and our institutions,” said Under Secretary of the Treasury for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence Brian E. Nelson. “Ransomware actors like Matveev will be held accountable for their crimes, and we will continue to use all available authorities and tools to defend against cyber threats.”

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