A Belarusian national was sentenced on Aug. 5 to 16 years in prison for conspiracy to commit offenses against the United States, conspiracy to commit wire fraud, and aggravated identity theft in Alexandria, Virginia.
According to court documents, Maksim Silnikau, 40, created and administered the Ransom Cartel ransomware strain in 2021. Silnikau had participated in Russian-speaking cybercrime forums since at least 2005 and was a member of the Direct Connection cybercrime website from 2011 until its closure in 2016 following the arrest of its administrator.
Beginning in May 2021, Silnikau developed a ransomware operation by recruiting participants from cybercrime forums. He distributed information and tools to members of Ransom Cartel, including stolen credentials and software designed to encrypt compromised computers. Silnikau maintained a hidden website that allowed conspirators to monitor attacks, communicate with each other and victims—including negotiating payment demands—and manage distribution of funds among co-conspirators.
From 2021 through 2023, Ransom Cartel members carried out ransomware attacks on at least eighteen companies worldwide. Victims included businesses based in California, New York, and Nebraska, as well as organizations outside the United States. The group stole data and demanded payments either for unlocking it or for promises not to publish it. The group’s activities were disrupted when Silnikau was arrested in July 2023.
Silnikau was extradited from Poland for prosecution in both the Eastern District of Virginia and the District of New Jersey. Authorities involved included First Assistant U.S. Attorney Theophani K. Stamos, Acting Special Agent in Charge Andrew Forrest of the US Secret Service Criminal Investigative Division, Chris Ormerod of the FBI Kansas City Field Office, and Craig L. Tremaroli of the FBI Albany Field Office.
The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs assisted with extradition efforts and evidence collection, while additional support came from both the U.S. Attorney’s Office for New Jersey and Computer Crime & Intellectual Property section.