By Yefim Toybin
October 17, 2010 @ 22:31
Еще одно громкое дело с участием граждан России и ряда стран СНГ потрясло жителей США. Хотелось бы верить, что прогрессивная русско-язычная общественность глубоко перживает резкий рост преступных деяний с участием русско-язычных жителей и не останется равнодушой к данной теме.
По данным на 17 октября, в США по делу о киберхищении более 70 миллионов долларов из американских банков, в результате специально проведенной ФБР операции на территории Соединенных Штатов, Великобритании, Украины и Нидерландов арестованы 20 человек. Еще несколько человек планируется арестовать в ближайшее время. Если вину докажут, им грозит до 30 лет тюрьмы и до миллиона долларов штрафа.
ФБР уточняет, что в схеме хищения миллионов из американских банков путем электронного мошенничества участввовали граждане России, и на сегодняшний день по обвинению в кибер-краже задержано 11 россиян.
По заявлению ФБР, это одно из самых крупных кибер уголовных дел когда-либо расследованных.
Кибер-воры были умные. Вместо кражи денег из больших корпораций и крупных банков, которые обладают современными средствами онлайн-безопасности, они снимали деньги со счетов средних предприятий, небольших городов, и даже церквей.
В прокуратуре предполагают, что если вина подозреваемых будет доказана, то им грозит наказание в виде тюремного заключения на срок от 10 до 30 лет, плюс штраф от четверти до миллиона долларов. Агенты ФБР поясняют: в результате схемы, в которой арестованные лишь посредники, получавшие вознаграждение не более 10 процентов от суммы, группе кибермошенников из Восточной Европы удалось похитить из пяти американских банков миллионы долларов.
В ФБР рассказывают, как работала схема снятия денег: жертвы получают по электронной почте сообщения с вирусом "Зевс Троян", открывают ссылку или файл, после чего программа получает доступ к паролям банковских счетов. Финальный аккорд - перевести деньги на счета третьих лиц и забрать их из банка. Тем, кто лично отправляется в банк получать деньги, не больше 26 лет, а младшему из них -20. Именно они и предстанут перед американским судом.
Но помимо фактических и потенциальных денежные потерь, это дело является исключительно важным из-за экстраординарного уровня сотрудничества и кооперации между международными правоохранительными органами по пресечению деятельности этой группы. И это также предупреждение для хакеров по всему миру, что у них остается все меньше убежищ, из которых они могут работать.
"Есть много проблем в сложных глобальных ситуациях, как эта," сказал Уэйсан Дан, специальный агент, директор офиса в Омахе, где началось расследование в мае 2009 года, когда агенты обнаружили документ о подозрительных банковских операций.
Он добавил, что "международное терпимость для этого вида преступной деятельности снижается. Наши партнеры за рубежом ведут борьбу с киберпреступностью более активно и эффективно, чем когда-либо прежде. Сотрудничество ряда стран, которые работали в партнерстве с Бюро по этому большому и важному делу, является очень важным шагом на пути по расследованию этих преступлений".
Cyber Banking Fraud
October 1, 2010
The cyber thieves were smart. Instead of targeting corporations and large banks that had state-of-the-art online security, they went after the accounts of medium-sized companies, towns, and even churches. Before they were caught, members of the theft ring managed to steal $70 million.
On October 1, 2010, with our law enforcement partners in the United States, the United Kingdom, Ukraine, and the Netherlands, we announce the execution of numerous arrests and search warrants in multiple countries in one of the largest cyber criminal cases we have ever investigated.
“This was a major theft ring,” said Gordon Snow, assistant director of the FBI’s Cyber Division. “Global criminal activity on this scale is a threat to our financial infrastructure, and it can only be effectively countered through the kind of international cooperation we have seen in this case.”
Using a Trojan horse virus known as Zeus, hackers in Eastern Europe infected computers around the world. The virus was carried in an e-mail, and when targeted individuals at businesses and municipalities opened the e-mail, the malicious software installed itself on the victimized computer, secretly capturing passwords, account numbers, and other data used to log into online banking accounts.
The hackers used this information to take over the victims’ bank accounts and make unauthorized transfers of thousands of dollars at a time, often routing the funds to other accounts controlled by a network of “money mules.” Many of the U.S. money mules were recruited from overseas. They created bank accounts using fake documents and phony names. Once the money was in their accounts, the mules could either wire it back to their bosses in Eastern Europe, or turn it into cash and smuggle it out of the country. For their work, they were paid a commission.
Yesterday, our New York office arrested 10 subjects related to the case, and we are seeking 17 others. Those arrested are charged with using hundreds of false-name bank accounts to receive more than $3 million from victimized accounts.
In all, the global theft ring attempted to steal some $220 million, and was actively involved in using Zeus to infect more computers. But beyond the actual and potential monetary loss, this case is significant because of the extraordinary level of cooperation among international law enforcement to stop the group. And it also sends a message to hackers around the world that there are fewer safe havens from which they can operate.
“There are many challenges in a complicated global case like this one,” said Weysan Dun, special agent in charge of our Omaha office, where the investigation began in May 2009 when agents discovered a pattern of suspicious banking transactions. “With multiple countries involved, there are differences in times zones, geography, and culture, not to mention that all our cyber laws are not the same. “But those differences were overcome,” Dun said, “and the results speak for themselves.”
He added, “The international tolerance for this kind of criminal activity is decreasing. Our partners overseas are dealing more aggressively and effectively with cybercrime than ever before. The number of nations that collaborated and worked in partnership with the Bureau on this case represents a very significant step forward in the way we investigate these cases.”
The FBI wanted poster looks like a yearbook page from a Russian provincial college. Seventeen men and women from Eastern Europe, mostly between the ages of 19 and 22, with bad skin, nerdy haircuts and no resemblance to your stereotypical bank robbers. But in the past two years, this ring of hackers was allegedly able to steal tens of millions of dollars from small businesses in the U.S. The arrests of 39 of their operatives in the U.S. last week is being touted by the FBI as one of the biggest busts in the history of cybercrime.
Russian and Moldovan nationals who had mostly entered the U.S. on student visas were recruited to set up hundreds of bank accounts in the U.S. under fake names — among them were "Fortune Binot" and "Bazil Kozloff" — and slowly withdraw the cash that had been illegally transferred into those dummy accounts. In total, they stole some $70 million before they were caught; the gang had attempted to steal $220 million in total mostly from accounts of medium-sized companies, towns and even churches, the FBI said in a statement on Oct. 1.
Kristina Svechinskaya (photos above))is one of nine people arrested Oct 1 in connection with a series of cyber bank robberies involving more than 80 defendants. Long story short, a group of co-ed Eastern European hackers installed the, nicknamed, Zeus Trojan within 5 banks that infiltrated and stole private account information. Kristina was one of the "mules" that assisted in opening multiple bank account to route the stolen loot.
Aleks Gostev, the chief security expert at Kaspersky Lab, Russia’s leading cybersecurity firm says, “The secret services of many countries need to be involved, including agents in the former Soviet states, where these crimes usually originate.” On this front, the FBI investigation made public last week was a breakthrough: the Ukrainian secret police, known as the SBU, worked closely with the FBI, and five suspects were detained in Ukraine last week. But the Russian government does not appear to have been too helpful, even though most of the suspects on the FBI indictment were listed as Russian nationals. On Oct. 1, after the FBI informed the Russian Foreign Ministry of the arrests, Moscow’s vice consul in New York City warned that the consulate general might file an official complaint if it turns out that Russians were arrested without following diplomatic protocol. No mention has been made of the two sides working together on this case.
In the past, however, there have been cases of cooperation between the U.S. and Russia on issues of cybercrime, notably when the U.S. indicted a Russian hacker for stealing some $9 million from the U.S. division of the Royal Bank of Scotland in 2006. But last month a Russian court gave that cyberthief a suspended sentence, underscoring the widely held belief that Russia remains a kind of safe zone for hackers. This reputation comes largely thanks to Russia's faulty legislation against cybercriminals and a lack of understanding of their crimes, which normally target banks and institutions in the West, not in Russia, making them less of a concern for local law enforcement. (For instance, Hacker Magazine, despite Russia's strict laws controlling the media, published a story in August explaining how to crack the NATO website, with screenshots and step-by-step instructions.)
Alexey Salnikov, deputy head of Moscow State University's Institute on the Problems of Information Security, which advises the government on cybercrime, says the main problem is in the hackers' anonymity. "There is no scientific basis for establishing the authorship of these crimes," he says. "When the attack comes from one country, the victim is in another and the stolen money is in a third, how do you solve the crime when every country has completely different laws?" This seems to be the central question, and if last week's bust proves anything, it is that global law enforcement has only begun to answer it. So the next time Russian hackers are caught siphoning millions from American accounts, it seems likely that the FBI will again be chasing mules.
Moscow is keeping an eagle eye on the situation surrounding 19 Russian hackers who were earlier detained by US special services and currently face charges of money laundering in the United States.
A statement to this effect was made on Oct 14, 2010 by Russian Foreign Ministry Spokesman Andrei Nesterenko, who added that the US-based Russian diplomats are currently discussing the topic with US law enforcement agencies.
He also said that all the 19 detainees are allowed to use the Internet and cell phones to communicate with their relatives.
FBI Source:
The Cases
The cases announced today are described in greater detail below. The charges against each defendant and the corresponding maximum potential penalties are below.
United States v. Artem Tsygankov, et al.
Four defendants are charged in a Complaint with one count of conspiracy to commit bank fraud and one count of conspiracy to possess false identification documents. In addition, two of the defendants—MAXIM PANFEROV and KRISTINA IZVEKOVA—are each charged with one count of false use of passports.
According to the Complaint, the defendants are Russian nationals who were members of the money mule organization that was responsible for retrieving the proceeds of the Zeus Trojan virus attack and transporting or transferring the money overseas. The Complaint alleges that ARTEM TSYGANKOV was a leader of the mule organization, who recruited mules and managed their activities, such as instructing the mules to withdraw the proceeds of fraudulent wire transfers to the mules’ accounts.
SOFIA DIKOVA is alleged to have been both the individual who obtained the fake passports for the mule organization and also served herself as a mule. DIKOVA opened at least one account at Chase Bank into which $14,500 was wired from a victim’s account at Total Bank and from which DIKOVA withdrew over $12,000. A false Yugoslavian passport for an individual named "Vesna Jelkovic," but which bore DIKOVA’s photograph, was intercepted at Newark Liberty International Airport by agents with the Department of Homeland Security in a shipment of false passports in January 2010.
The Complaint further alleges that MAXIM PANFEROV and KRISTINA IZVEKOVA were two mules in the same mule organization. PANFEROV allegedly opened at least four accounts at TD Bank with false foreign passports under the aliases "Vytautus Norkes," "Arturas Nastajus," "Maxim Demis," and "Andris Porkes," into which nearly $30,000 was wired fraudulently and from which PANFEROV withdrew approximately $23,000.
United States v. Artem Semenov, et al.
Four defendants are charged in a Complaint with one count of conspiracy to commit bank fraud and one count of conspiracy to possess false identification documents. In addition, two of the defendants—ARTEM SEMENOV and ALMIRA RAKMATULINA—are each charged with one count of false use of passports.
According to the Complaint, ARTEM SEMENOV, ALMIRA RAKMATULINA, and JULIA SHPIRKO are Russian nationals who all applied for and received J1 Visas to enter the United States. SEMENOV received a J1 visa in 2009 that was valid until September 30, 2009, but has not left the United States. RAKMATULINA and SHPIRKO received visas that were valid from May 2010 through October 1, 2010.
As alleged in the Complaint, ARTEM SEMENOV is an experienced money mule who recruited RAKMATULINA and SHPIRKO to be mules and thereafter managed their activities by, among other things, transporting them between banks to withdraw money that had been fraudulently transferred into their accounts. According to the Complaint, SEMENOV was arrested in December 2009 by the New York City Police Department while attempting to open an account in a false name at a Bank of America Branch in Manhattan.
Following his arraignment on state charges of identity theft and possession of a forged instrument, SEMENOV was released on bail, absconded, and, just four days later, opened an account under a different false name at another bank. The Complaint alleges that SEMENOV opened at least seven accounts at TD Bank and Bank of America under at least six aliases: "Valentin Kulakov," "Alexey Michinnik," "Arvind Shah," "Fred Teschemacher," "Tokin Waaran," and "David Warren." According to the Complaint, approximately $70,000 from the accounts of five different victims was fraudulently wired into the accounts SEMENOV opened, out of which SEMENOV withdrew at least $28,000 before the accounts were closed by the banks.
According to the Complaint, RAKMATULINA and SHPIRKO were recruited by SEMENOV. RAKMATULINA has allegedly opened four accounts under two different aliases, into which approximately $30,000 from the accounts of two different victims was fraudulently transferred and from which RAKMATULINA succeeded in withdrawing approximately $20,000.
United States v. Maxim Miroshnichenko, et al.
MAXIM MIROSHNICHENKO and JULIA SIDORENKO are charged in a Complaint with one count of conspiracy to commit bank fraud and one count of conspiracy to possess false identification documents. In addition, SIDORENKO is charged with one count of false use of passports.
According to the Complaint, MIROSHNICHENKO and SIDORENKO are Russian nationals who were recruited to join a money mule organization that had over two dozen participants and had contacts with computer hackers and individuals who could provide fake passports. MIROSHNICHENKO has allegedly opened at least five accounts under his own name and under the alias "Petr Iankov" at TD Bank, Chase Bank, Bank of America, and Wachovia, as well as four accounts under two different aliases, into which approximately $12,000 was fraudulently wired from the account of one victim and from which the same amount was withdrawn. SIDORENKO allegedly opened eight accounts at the same four banks under the names "Mariana Fedorova" and "Svetlana Kapralova."
United States v. Marina Oprea, et al.
Four defendants are charged in a Complaint with one count of conspiracy to commit bank fraud and one count of conspiracy to possess false identification documents.
According to the complaint, the four defendants—MARINA OPREA, CATALINA CORTAC, ION VOLOSCIUC, and LILIAN ADAM are all citizens from the Republic of Moldova who spent the past summer in the United States. While here, they were all recruited into the same money mule organization. OPREA allegedly opened at least six accounts under her own name, under two aliases, and under the business name "Marina Trade Center LLC," into which over $250,000 from four victims, including a municipality in New Jersey, was fraudulently deposited, and from which approximately $15,000 was successfully withdrawn. CORTAC allegedly opened at least four accounts under her own name and under two aliases, into which approximately $14,570 was fraudulently wired from a victim’s bank account, and from which approximately $10,000 was withdrawn. VOLOSCIUC allegedly opened at least four accounts under his own name and under two aliases, into which approximately $14,700 was fraudulently wired from a victim’s bank account, and from which approximately $14,676 was withdrawn. ADAM allegedly opened at least three accounts under his own name and under one alias, into which approximately $14,620 was fraudulently wired from a victim’s bank account, and from which approximately $7,900 was withdrawn.
United States v. Kristina Svechinskaya, et al.
KRISTINA SVECHINSKAYA and STANISLAV RASTORGUEV are charged in a Complaint with one count of conspiracy to commit bank fraud and one count of false use of passports. According to the Complaint, SVECHINSKAYA and RASTORGUEV are Russian nationals who were recruited to join a mule organization that had over two dozen participants and had contacts with computer hackers and individuals who could provide fake passports. SVECHINSKAYA has allegedly opened at least five accounts under her own name and under the aliases "Anastasia Opokina" and "Svetlana Makarova" at Bank of America and Wachovia, into which over $35,000 was fraudulently deposited, affecting three victims, and from which approximately $11,000 was successfully withdrawn. RASTORGUEV has allegedly opened at least two accounts under the alias "Petr Rubashkin" at Bank of America and J.P. Morgan Chase, into which over $38,000 was fraudulently deposited, from two victims, and from which approximately $15,500 was successfully withdrawn. United States v. Margarita Pakhomova
MARGARITA PAKHOMOVA is charged in a Complaint with one count of conspiracy to commit bank fraud and one count of false use of passports.
According to the Complaint, PAKHOMOVA is a Russian national who was recruited to join a mule organization that had over two dozen participants and had contacts with computer hackers and individuals who could provide fake passports. PAKHOMOVA has allegedly opened at least eleven accounts under the aliases "Ritta Kostos," "Ritta Brown," "Elena Fillimonova," and "Alla Borisova" at TD Bank, Bank of America, and Wachovia, into which over $80,000 was fraudulently deposited, from eight victims, and from which approximately $54,700 was successfully withdrawn.
United States v. Ilya Karasev
ILYA KARASEV is charged in a Complaint with one count of conspiracy to commit bank fraud, one count of conspiracy to possess false identification documents, and one count of false use of passports.
According to the Complaint, KARASEV is a Russian national who was recruited to join a money mule organization that had over two dozen participants and had contacts with computer hackers and individuals who could provide fake passports. KARASEV has allegedly opened at least nine accounts under the aliases "Goran Dobric," "Alexis Herris," "Fransoise Lewenstadd," "Fortune Binot," and "Diman Karasev" at TD Bank, Bank of America, and J.P. Morgan Chase, into which over $80,000 was fraudulently deposited, affecting seven victims, and from which approximately $56,100 was successfully withdrawn.
United States v. Marina Misyura
MARINA MISYURA is charged in a Complaint with one count of conspiracy to commit bank fraud, one count of conspiracy to possess false identification documents, and one count of false use of passports.
According to the Complaint, MISYURA is a Russian national who was recruited to join a money mule organization that had over two dozen participants and had contacts with computer hackers and individuals who could provide fake passports. MISYURA has allegedly opened at least four accounts under the aliases "Sibilla Moller," "Valeri Puigrinier" and "Ana Tiraksa" at TD Bank and Bank of America, into which over $21,000 was fraudulently deposited, from two victims, and from which approximately $20,400 was successfully withdrawn. United States v. Nikolai Garifulin, et al.
NIKOLAI GARIFULIN and DMITRY SAPRUNOV are charged in a Complaint with one count of conspiracy to commit bank fraud. In addition, SAPRUNOV is charged with one count of false use of passports.
According to the Complaint, GARIFULIN and SAPRUNOV are Russian nationals who were recruited to join a money mule organization that had over two dozen participants and had contacts with computer hackers and individuals who could provide fake passports. GARIFULIN, who is also known as “Robert,” has, among other things, allegedly been involving in transporting approximately $150,000 from the United States to Russia to pay these computer hackers. SAPRUNOV has allegedly opened at least four accounts under the aliases "Lean Marc Garrot" and "Bazil Kozloff" at TD Bank and Bank of America, into which over $38,000 was fraudulently deposited, from four victims, and from which approximately $13,940 was successfully withdrawn.
United States v. Dorin Codreanu
DORIN CODREANU is charged in a one-count Complaint with conspiracy to commit bank fraud.
According to the Complaint, CODREANU is a Moldovan national who is a money mule who also recruited and managed other mules. As alleged in the Complaint, CODREANU recruited two mules into the organization, explaining, among other things, that mules keep ten percent of the money they withdraw. CODREANU also provided the mules with fake foreign passports. In addition, CODREANU opened at least two accounts in connection with the mule organization, including an account in the fake business name of "Key Marius Import LLC."
United States v. Victoria Opinca, et al.
VICTORIA OPINCA and ALINA TURUTA are charged in a Complaint with one count of bank fraud.
According to the Complaint, OPINCA and TURUTA are Moldovan nationals who were money mules. OPINCA allegedly opened at least five accounts at three different banks and received approximately $25,000 in fraudulent wire transfers. TURUTA allegedly opened at least four accounts at three different banks and received approximately $12,380 in fraudulent wire transfers.
United States v. Alexander Kireev
ALEXANDER KIREEV is charged in a Complaint with one count of money laundering.
According to the Complaint, KIREEV is a money mule who opened three accounts at three different banks, into which over $100,000 in fraudulent wire transfers were deposited from the accounts of four victims, including a municipal entity in Massachusetts.
United States v. Kasum Adigyuzelov
KASUM ADIGYUZELOV is charged in a Complaint with one count of conspiracy to commit bank fraud and one count of transferring false identification documents.
According to the Complaint, ADIGYUZELOV is a Russian national who recruited and managed money mules. Among other things, ADIGYUZELOV is alleged to have placed advertisements on a Russian language websites seeking students with a J-1 visa; described the money mules’ role to prospective mules; obtained fake passports for the mules; and driven the mules to and from banks to withdraw the proceeds of fraudulent wire transfers.
United States v. Sabina Rafikova
SABINA RAFIKOVA is charged in a Complaint with one count of bank fraud, one count of production of false identification documents, and one count of possession of false immigration documents.
According to the Complaint, RAFIKOVA is a Russian national and money mule who initially arrived in the United States on a J1 visa. RAFIKOVA alleged opened three accounts at two different banks using two fake identities and received approximately $25,000 in fraudulent wire transfers.
United States v. Konstantin Akobirov
KONSTANTIN AKOBIROV is charged in a Complaint with one count of bank fraud and with one count of false use of a passport.
According to the Complaint, AKOBIROV is a money mule who, using a false name, opened three accounts at three different banks into one of which approximately $14,150 was fraudulently transferred.
United States v. Adel Gataullin
ADEL GATAULLIN is charged in a Complaint with one count of bank fraud, one count of possession of false identification documents and one count of false use of passports. According to the Complaint, GATAULLIN is a Russian national who allegedly opened eight accounts at three different banks using five aliases. In January 2010, the account held by a hospital at a California bank was compromised, resulting in wire transfers of a total of approximately $130,000 being send to various accounts, including approximately $35,000 which was transferred to three of the accounts opened by GATAULLIN.
United States v. Ruslan Kovtanyuk
RUSLAN KOVTANYUK is charged in a Complaint with one count of bank fraud and one count of false use of passports.
According to the Complaint, KOVTANYUK is a Russian national who was both a money mule and a manager of other mules. KOVTANYUK allegedly opened at least six accounts at four different banks using three aliases, into which a total of approximately $86,000 in fraudulent wire transfers were deposited.
United States v. Yulia Klepikova, et al.
YULIA KLEPIKOVA and NATALIA DEMINA are charged in a Complaint with one count of conspiracy to commit bank fraud and one count of conspiracy to possess false identification documents. In addition, KLEPIKOVA is charged with one count of false use of passports.
According to the Complaint, KLEPIKOVA and DEMINA are Russian nationals who were recruited into a money mule organization. KLEPIKOVA allegedly opened at least seven accounts at two different banks using five aliases, into which a total of approximately $42,375 in fraudulent wire transfers were deposited. DEMINA allegedly opened at least four accounts at two different banks using five aliases, into which a total of approximately $28,000 in fraudulent wire transfers were deposited.
United States v. Alexandr Sorokin
ALEXANDR SOROKIN is charged in a one-count Information with money laundering.
According to a previously-filed Complaint, in the early fall of 2009, SOROKIN, a Russian national, was recruited online to be a money mule. He thereafter opened an account in the name “Ashwin Patel,” into which a wire transfer of $8,000 was fraudulently deposited.
United States v. Alexander Fedorov
ALEXANDER FEDOROV is charged in a one-count Information with conspiracy to commit bank fraud. According to a previously-filed Complaint, FEDOROV is a Russian national who was based in Los Angeles, California, where he coordinated the activities of money mules through Russian social networking websites.
United States v. Anton Yuferitsyn
ANTON YUFERITSYN is charged in a one-count Information with conspiracy to commit bank fraud.
According to a previously-filed Complaint, YUFERITSYN is a Russian national who managed at least one other money mule.
United States v. Jamal Beyrouti, et al.
Three defendants are charged in a Complaint with one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and one count of conspiracy to launder the proceeds of wire fraud.
According to the Complaint, the defendants were members of a money mule organization that was responsible for retrieving the proceeds of breaches of brokerage accounts at E*Trade Financial Corporation and TD Ameritrade, Inc., that had been electronically breached. One or more hackers either executed unauthorized sales of securities in the hacked accounts, linked the hacked accounts to shell company accounts, then transferred funds from the sale of securities to the shell accounts, or directly transferred cash in the hacked accounts to shell accounts. In the overwhelming majority of cases, the victim account holders experienced continuous calls to the phone numbers registered with their account profiles that, when picked up, were either silent or played a recorded message to prevent the brokerage firms from confirming the transactions.
According to the Complaint, JAMAL BEYROUTI, LORENZO BABBO, and VINCENZO VITELLO, each opened accounts in the name of shell companies that received the funds from certain of the hacked accounts. In total, the defendants’ shell accounts received approximately $1.2 million in stolen funds. The defendants then directly wire transferred the funds to bank accounts located in Asia or through other accounts they controlled. They also withdrew a portion of the funds through ATMs in the New York City area.
Today's takedown is the culmination of a year-long investigation conducted by the United States Attorney's Office for the Southern District of New York, the New York County District Attorney's Office, the FBI, the NYPD, the Department of State Diplomatic Security Service, HSI, and USSS.
Mr. BHARARA thanked all of the law enforcement agencies involved in the investigation for their outstanding work. Mr. BHARARA also thanked Bank of America, TD Bank, JPMorgan Chase Bank, Wachovia, and HSBC Bank for their assistance in the investigation. He added that the investigation is continuing.
The investigation and prosecution of these cases is being overseen by the Office's Complex Frauds Unit, which handles the Office’s cybercrime enforcement efforts. The cases are being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys JOSEPH P. FACCIPONTI, ANDREW BAUER, SARAH LAI, THOMAS G.A. BROWN, and JUSTIN ANDERSON.
The charges contained in the various charging instruments discussed above are merely accusations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
United States v. Artem Tsygankov, et al. (10 Mag. 2126)
Defendant Age
ARTEM TSYGANKOV 22
SOFIA DIKOVA 20
MAXIM PANFEROV 23
KRISTINA IZVEKOVA 22
Ct Charge Defendants Maximum Penalties
1 Conspiracy to Commit Bank Fraud ARTEM TSYGANKOV, SOFIA DIKOVA, MAXIM PANFEROV, KRISTINA IZVEKOVA 30 years in prison; fine of $1,000,000 or twice the gross gain or loss; and restitution
2 Conspiracy to Possess False Identification Documents ARTEM TSYGANKOV, SOFIA DIKOVA, MAXIM PANFEROV, KRISTINA IZVEKOVA 15 years in prison; fine of $250,000 or twice the gross gain or loss; and restitution
3 False Use of Passport MAXIM PANFEROV 10 years in prison; fine of $250,000 or twice the gross gain or loss; and restitution
4 False Use of Passport KRISTINA IZVEKOVA 10 years in prison; fine of $250,000 or twice the gross gain or loss; and restitution
United States v. Artem Semenov, et al. (10 Mag. 2154)
Defendant Age
ARTEM SEMENOV 23
ALMIRA RAKHMATULINA 20
JULIA SHPIRKO 20
Ct Charge Defendants Maximum Penalties
1 Conspiracy to Commit Bank Fraud ARTEM SEMENOV ALMIRA RAKHMATULINA JULIA SHPIRKO 30 years in prison; fine of $1,000,000 or twice the gross gain or loss; and restitution
2 Conspiracy to Possess False Identification Documents ARTEM SEMENOV ALMIRA RAKHMATULINA JULIA SHPIRKO 15 years in prison; fine of $250,000 or twice the gross gain or loss; and restitution
3 False Use of Passport ARTEM SEMENOV 10 years in prison; fine of $250,000 or twice the gross gain or loss; and restitution
4 False Use of Passport ALMIRA RAKHMATULINA 10 years in prison; fine of $250,000 or twice the gross gain or loss; and restitution
United States v. Maxim Miroshnichenko, et al. (10 Mag. 2141)
Defendant Age
MAXIM MIROSHNICHENKO 22
JULIA SIDORENKO 22
Ct Charge Defendants Maximum Penalties
1 Conspiracy to Commit Bank Fraud MAXIM MIROSHNICHENKO JULIA SIDORENKO 30 years in prison; fine of $1,000,000 or twice the gross gain or loss; and restitution
2 Conspiracy to Possess False Identification Documents MAXIM MIROSHNICHENKO JULIA SIDORENKO 15 years in prison; fine of $250,000 or twice the gross gain or loss; and restitution
3 False Use of Passport JULIA SIDORENKO 10 years in prison; fine of $250,000 or twice the gross gain or loss; and restitution
United States v. Marina Oprea (10 Mag. 2142)
Defendant Age
MARINA OPREA 20
CATALINA CORTAC 21
ION VOLOSCIUC 19
LILIAN ADAM 21
Ct Charge Defendants Maximum Penalties
1 Conspiracy to Commit Bank Fraud MARINA OPREA CATALINA CORTAC ION VOLOSCIUC LILIAN ADAM 30 years in prison; fine of $1,000,000 or twice the gross gain or loss; and restitution
2 Conspiracy to Possess False Identification Documents MARINA OPREA CATALINA CORTAC ION VOLOSCIUC LILIAN ADAM 15 years in prison; fine of $250,000 or twice the gross gain or loss; and restitution
United States v. Kristina Svechinskaya, et al. (10 Mag. 2137)
Defendant Age
KRISTINA SVECHINSKAYA 21
STANISLAV RASTORGUEV 22
Ct Charge Defendants Maximum Penalties
1 Conspiracy to Commit Bank Fraud KRISTINA SVECHINSKAYA, STANISLAV RASTORGUEV 30 years in prison; fine of $1,000,000 or twice the gross gain or loss; and restitution
2 False Use of Passport KRISTINA SVECHINSKAYA, STANISLAV RASTORGUEV 10 years in prison; fine of $250,000 or twice the gross gain or loss; and restitution
United States v. Margarita Pakhomova (10 Mag. 2136)
Defendant Age
MARGARITA PAKHOMOVA 21
Ct Charge Defendant Maximum Penalties
1 Conspiracy to Commit Bank Fraud MARGARITA PAKHOMOVA 30 years in prison; fine of $1,000,000 or twice the gross gain or loss; and restitution
2 False Use of Passport MARGARITA PAKHOMOVA 10 years in prison; fine of $250,000 or twice the gross gain or loss; and restitution
United States v. Ilya Karasev (10 Mag. 2127)
Defendant Age
ILYA KARASEV 22
Ct Charge Defendants Maximum Penalties
1 Conspiracy to Commit Bank Fraud ILYA KARASEV 30 years in prison; fine of $1,000,000 or twice the gross gain or loss; and restitution
2 Conspiracy to Possess False Identification Documents ILYA KARASEV 15 years in prison; fine of $250,000 or twice the gross gain or loss; and restitution
3 False Use of Passport ILYA KARASEV 10 years in prison; fine of $250,000 or twice the gross gain or loss; and restitution
United States v. Marina Misyura (10 Mag. 2125)
Defendant Age
MARINA MISYURA 22
Ct Charge Defendant Maximum Penalties
1 Conspiracy to Commit Bank Fraud MARINA MISYURA 30 years in prison; fine of $1,000,000 or twice the gross gain or loss; and restitution
2 False Use of Passport MARINA MISYURA 10 years in prison; fine of $250,000 or twice the gross gain or loss; and restitution
United States v. Nikolai Garifulin, et al. (10 Mag. 2138)
Defendant Age
NIKOLAI GARIFULIN 21
DMITRY SAPRUNOV 22
Ct Charge Defendant(s) Maximum Penalties
1 Conspiracy to Commit Bank Fraud NIKOLAI GARIFULIN, DMITRY SAPRUNOV 30 years in prison; fine of $1,000,000 or twice the gross gain or loss; and restitution
2 False Use of Passport DMITRY SAPRUNOV 10 years in prison; fine of $250,000 or twice the gross gain or loss; and restitution
United States v. Dorin Codreanu (10 Mag. 2152)
Defendant Age
DORIN CODREANU 21
Ct Charge Defendants Maximum Penalties
1 Conspiracy to Commit Bank Fraud DORIN CODREANU 30 years in prison; fine of $1,000,000 or twice the gross gain or loss; and restitution
United States v. Victoria Opinca, et al. (10 Mag. 2153)
Defendant Age
VICTORIA OPINCA 21
ALINA TURUTA 22
Ct Charge Defendants Maximum Penalties
1 Conspiracy to Commit Bank Fraud VICTORIA OPINCA ALINA TURUTA 30 years in prison; fine of $1,000,000 or twice the gross gain or loss; and restitution
United States v. Alexander Kireev (10 Mag. 1356)
Defendant Age
ALEXANDER KIREEV 22
Ct Charge Defendants Maximum Penalties
1 Money Laundering ALEXANDER KIREEV 10 years in prison; fine of $250,000 or twice the gross gain or loss, or twice the amount laundered; and restitution
United States v. Kasum Adigyuzelov (10 Mag. 1622)
Defendant Age
KASUM ADIGYUZELOV 25
Ct Charge Defendants Maximum Penalties
1 Conspiracy to Commit Bank Fraud KASUM ADIGYUZELOV 30 years in prison; fine of $1,000,000 or twice the gross gain or loss; and restitution
2 Transfer of False Identification Documents KASUM ADIGYUZELOV Five years in prison; fine of $250,000 or twice the gross gain or loss; and restitution
United States v. Sabina Rafikova (10 Mag. 1623)
Defendant Age
SABINA RAFIKOVA 23
Ct Charge Defendants Maximum Penalties
1 Bank Fraud SABINA RAFIKOVA 30 years in prison; fine of $1,000,000 or twice the gross gain or loss; and restitution
2 Production of False Identification Documents SABINA RAFIKOVA 15 years in prison; fine of $250,000 or twice the gross gain or loss; and restitution
3 Possession of False Immigration Documents SABINA RAFIKOVA 10 years in prison; fine of $250,000 or twice the gross gain or loss; and restitution
United States v. Konstantin Akobirov (10 Mag. 1659)
Defendant Age
KONSTANTIN AKOBIROV 25
Ct Charge Defendants Maximum Penalties
1 Bank Fraud KONSTANTIN AKOBIROV 30 years in prison; fine of $1,000,000 or twice the gross gain or loss; and restitution
2 False Use of Passport KONSTANTIN AKOBIROV 10 years in prison; fine of $250,000 or twice the gross gain or loss; and restitution
United States v. Adel Gataullin (10 Mag. 1680)
Defendant Age
ADEL GATAULLIN 22
Ct Charge Defendants Maximum Penalties
1 Bank Fraud ADEL GATAULLIN 30 years in prison; fine of $1,000,000 or twice the gross gain or loss; and restitution
2 Production of False Identification Documents ADEL GATAULLIN 15 years in prison; fine of $250,000 or twice the gross gain or loss; and restitution
3 False Use of Passport ADEL GATAULLIN 10 years in prison; fine of $250,000 or twice the gross gain or loss; and restitution
United States v. Ruslan Kovtanyuk (10 Mag. 1827)
Defendant Age
RUSLAN KOVTANYUK 24
Ct Charge Defendants Maximum Penalties
1 Bank Fraud RUSLAN KOVTANYUK 30 years in prison; fine of $1,000,000 or twice the gross gain or loss; and restitution
2 False Use of Passport RUSLAN KOVTANYUK 10 years in prison; fine of $250,000 or twice the gross gain or loss; and restitution
United States v. Yulia Klepikova, et al. (10 Mag. 1753)
Defendant Age
YULIA KLEPIKOVA 22
NATALIA DEMINA 23
Ct Charge Defendants Maximum Penalties
1 Conspiracy to Commit Bank Fraud YULIA KLEPIKOVA NATALIA DEMINA 30 years in prison; fine of $1,000,000 or twice the gross gain or loss; and restitution
2 Conspiracy to Produce False Identification Documents YULIA KLEPIKOVA NATALIA DEMINA 15 years in prison; fine of $250,000 or twice the gross gain or loss; and restitution
3 False Use of Passport YULIA KLEPIKOVA 10 years in prison; fine of $250,000 or twice the gross gain or loss; and restitution
United States v. Alexandr Sorokin (10 Cr. 437 (RWS))
Ct Charge Defendants Maximum Penalties
1 Money Laundering ALEXANDR SOROKIN 20 years in prison; fine of $500,000 or twice the amount laundered; and restitution
On June 16, 2010, ALEXANDR SOROKIN pled guilty in Manhattan Federal Court to a one-count Information charging him with money laundering. SOROKIN is scheduled to be sentenced by U.S. District Judge ROBERT W. SWEET on October 4, 2010.
United States v. Alexander Fedorov (10 Cr. 873 (KTD))
Ct Charge Defendants Maximum Penalties
1 Money Laundering ALEXANDER FEDOROV 20 years in prison; fine of $500,000 or twice the amount laundered; andrestitution
On September 27, 2010, ALEXANDER FEDOROV pleaded guilty in Manhattan Federal Court to a one-count Information charging him with money laundering. FEDOROV is scheduled to be sentenced by U.S. District Judge THOMAS K. DUFFY on January 5, 2011.
United States v. Anton Yuferitsyn (10 Cr. 134 (JGK))
Ct Charge Defendants Maximum Penalties
1 Money Laundering ANTON YUFERITSYN 20 years in prison; fine of $500,000 or twice the amount laundered; and restitution
On February 19, 2010, ANTON YUFERITSYN pleaded guilty in Manhattan Federal Court to a one-count Information charging him with money laundering. On June 25, 2010, U.S. District Judge JOHN G. KOELTL sentenced ANTON YUFERITSYN to a term of imprisonment of 10 months and to pay $38,413 in restitution.
United States v. Jamal Beyrouti et al. (10 Mag. 2134)
Defendant Age
JAMAL BEYROUTI 53
LORENZO BABBO 20
VINCENZO VITELLO 29
Ct Charge Defendants Maximum Penalties
1 Conspiracy to Commit Wire Fraud JAMAL BEYROUTI LORENZO BABBO VINCENZO VITELLO 20 years in prison; fine of $250,000 or twice the gross gain or loss; and restitution
2 Conspiracy to Commit Money Laundering JAMAL BEYROUTI LORENZO BABBO VINCENZO VITELLO 20 years in prison; fine of $250,000 or twice the gross gain or loss; and restitution
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