Aleksey Olegovich Volkov pleaded guilty to acting as an initial access broker and was sentenced to 81 months in prison for selling corporate network access to the Yanluowang ransomware operation. Federal investigators recovered chat logs, stolen data, and financial records linking Volkov to roughly $1.5 million in ransom proceeds and ordered restitution and forfeiture exceeding $9.16 million. #Yanluowang #AlekseyVolkov
Keypoints
- Aleksey Volkov (aliases “chubaka.kor” and “nets”) admitted targeting at least eight U.S. companies from July 2021 to November 2022.
- Volkov sold breached corporate network access to Yanluowang affiliates, who deployed ransomware and sought ransoms between $300,000 and $15 million.
- The FBI seized a server and recovered chat logs, stolen files, victim credentials, and evidence of ransom negotiations using Yanluowang accounts.
- Investigators traced Volkov through Apple iCloud data, cryptocurrency exchange records, and social media tied to his Russian passport and phone number.
- He was sentenced to 81 months in prison, must pay over $9,167,198.19 in restitution, and forfeited equipment used in the crimes.