A South Florida man, Angelo John Martino III, pleaded guilty to conspiring with BlackCat/ALPHV affiliates to attack and extort payments from U.S. companies he was supposed to represent as a ransomware negotiator for DigitalMint in 2023. He admitted using confidential negotiation and insurance information to maximize ransom payouts, contributing to roughly $75.3 million in extorted payments, and now faces sentencing; authorities seized assets and cryptocurrency tied to his crimes. #AngeloMartino #BlackCat #ALPHV #DigitalMint
Keypoints
- Angelo John Martino III pleaded guilty to conspiring with BlackCat/ALPHV affiliates while serving as a ransomware negotiator for DigitalMint.
- He disclosed victims’ internal negotiating positions and insurance limits to attackers to increase ransom demands.
- Martino’s actions helped extort a combined $75.3 million, including large payments from a nonprofit and a financial services company.
- Co-conspirators included former DigitalMint negotiator Kevin Tyler Martin and ex-Sygnia incident response manager Ryan Clifford Goldberg, who have pleaded guilty.
- Authorities seized about $10 million in assets and properties; Martino faces up to 20 years in prison with sentencing scheduled for July 9.
Read More: https://cyberscoop.com/digitalmint-ransomware-negotiator-angelo-martino-guilty-plea/