A Belarusian national, Maksim Silnikau, was sentenced to 16 years in prison for conspiracy to commit offenses against the United States, conspiracy to commit wire fraud, and aggravated identity theft. Silnikau, 40, was the creator and administrator of the Ransom Cartel ransomware strain, developed in 2021. He had participated in Russian-speaking cybercrime forums since 2005 and was a member of the cybercrime website Direct Connection from 2011 to 2016. From May 2021, Silnikau recruited participants and provided tools for ransomware attacks, including encrypted data access and payment negotiation systems. Between 2021 and 2023, Ransom Cartel targeted at least 18 companies globally, stealing data and demanding ransom payments. Silnikau was extradited from Poland to face prosecution. The case was prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office and supported by federal agencies, including the FBI and Secret Service.
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