Florida Man Working as Ransomware Negotiator Pleads Guilty to Ransomware Attacks
10 hours ago
- #Cybersecurity Crime
- #Ransomware
- #Insider Threat
- A Florida man, Angelo Martino, pleaded guilty to conspiring to commit ransomware attacks while working as a ransomware negotiator.
- He collaborated with the BlackCat ransomware group, abusing his role at a cyber incident response company to leak confidential victim information, which maximized ransom payments.
- Martino also conspired with two others to deploy ransomware against U.S. victims, extorting about $1.2 million in Bitcoin and laundering the proceeds.
- Law enforcement seized $10 million in assets from Martino, including digital currency and luxury items.
- He faces up to 20 years in prison, with sentencing scheduled for July 9, while his accomplices have already pleaded guilty.
- This case highlights insider threats in the cybersecurity industry and ongoing efforts by the FBI to dismantle ransomware operations.
- The Department of Justice previously disrupted BlackCat in 2023, saving victims approximately $99 million with a decryption tool.