A Canadian national has been handed a 20-year prison sentence for his participation in numerous ransomware attacks that cost victims tens of millions of dollars.
According to an Oct. 4 U.S. Department of Justice news release, Sebastian Vachon-Desjardins, 35, from Gatineau, Quebec, allegedly took part in numerous attacks against businesses and organizations using the ransomware software known as NetWalker.
“The defendant identified and attacked high-value ransomware victims and profited from the chaos caused by encrypting and stealing the victims’ data,” Assistant Attorney General Kenneth A. Polite Jr., of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, said in the release. “Today’s sentence demonstrates that ransomware actors will face significant consequences for their crimes and exemplifies the Department’s steadfast commitment to pursuing actors who participate in ransomware schemes.”
Vachon-Desjardins has also been ordered to pay $21,500,000 in forfeiture and will be required to pay restitution to his victims, the total of which will determined later, the release reported. His targets included companies, municipalities, hospitals, law enforcement, emergency services, school districts, colleges and universities using the COVID-19 pandemic to extort his victims.
“The defendant in this case used sophisticated technological means to exploit hundreds of victims in numerous countries at the height of an international health crisis,” U.S. Attorney Roger B. Handberg, for the Middle District of Florida said in the release. “This case is an example of the dedication and tenacious work of our law enforcement partners to bring such criminals to justice, no matter where they reside or operate.”
Following an investigation, Vachon-Desjardins was arrested at his residence in Gatineau Jan. 27, 2021, by Canadian authorities before being extradited to the U.S to face the charges, according to the release. A search of Vachon-Desjardins' residence turned up $742,840 in Canadian currency and 719 Bitcoin, valued at approximately $21,849,087 at the time of seizure in 2021.
