PANews reported on August 15 that the U.S. Department of Justice has issued a search warrant to seize $2.8 million worth of cryptocurrency from a wallet controlled by an individual accused of deploying ransomware to steal data and demand ransom. These warrants have been filed in the Eastern District of Virginia, the Central District of California, and the Northern District of Texas. According to the statement, these warrants authorize prosecutors to seize cryptocurrency, $70,000 in cash, and a luxury car.
The prosecutor stated that Ianis Aleksandrovich Antropenko used ransomware to attack individuals, businesses, and organizations globally, and attempted to steal data. The ransom was laundered through various means, including the use of cryptocurrency mixing service ChipMixer. This mixing service was shut down in 2023, and its operators were charged with money laundering.
