In a new development in the global fight against the LockBit ransomware group, Mikhail Vasiliev, a resident of Bradford, Ont., has been sentenced to four years in prison.
Vasiliev, a Russian-Canadian, pleaded guilty to eight counts of cyber extortion, mischief, weapons charges, and affiliation with the cybercrime syndicate, marking a milestone with a LockBit member arrested — a case that has garnered international attention and involved high-profile data breaches with millions in extortion.
Vasiliev’s sentencing, which comes after his admission of guilt last month, highlights the seriousness with which authorities are tackling cyber threats.
The lawyer, Louis Strezos, speaking outside the courthouse, emphasized Vasiliev’s acceptance of responsibility for his actions, a factor that weighed in the sentencing decision.
LockBit Member Arrested and Sentenced to Prison
During the sentencing, Justice Michelle Fuerst didn’t mince words, referring to Vasiliev as a “cyber-terrorist” and characterizing his conduct as “planned, deliberate, and coldly calculated”, reported CTV News. She highlighted the impact of Vasiliev’s crimes, noting that they were far from victimless and motivated purely by greed.
The case against Vasiliev shed light on his involvement with the LockBit ransomware group, a notorious cybercrime group apprehended by international law enforcement authorities.
According to Operation Cronos, the driving force behind the LockBit member arrest revealed that he had been actively participating in cyber extortion schemes, targeting businesses across various Canadian provinces.
The 34-year-old, who relocated from Moscow over two decades ago, confessed to engaging in ransomware attacks, wherein he seized sensitive computer data and demanded ransom payments from victims, including businesses in Saskatchewan, Montreal, and Newfoundland, CTV News stated.
The group’s modus operandi involved encrypting sensitive computer data and demanding hefty ransom payments from its victims, paralyzing their operations in the process.
According to the FBI, Vasiliev’s involvement with LockBit resulted in ransom demands totaling over $100 million, with millions of dollars in ransom payments extracted from victims worldwide.
This staggering figure highlights the scale and sophistication of the cybercrime operations orchestrated by Vasiliev and other LockBit members. In a related development, Vasiliev and four other alleged members of the LockBit group were charged by the U.S. Justice Department.
Vasiliev has consented to extradition to the U.S., where he faces additional cybercrime charges. These charges include conspiracy to intentionally damage protected computers and transmit ransom demands, indicating the severity of his criminal activities.
As part of his sentencing, Vasiliev has been ordered to pay restitution totaling more than $860,000 to his Canadian victims. Meanwhile, with his extradition looming, his family is making plans to relocate back to Russia.
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