The Department of Justice has unsealed six warrants in federal courts in Texas, Virginia, and California authorizing the seizure of more than $2.8 million in cryptocurrency, $70,000 in cash, and a luxury vehicle tied to an alleged international ransomware scheme.
According to the indictment, the cryptocurrency was seized from a wallet controlled by Ianis Aleksandrovich Antropenko, who is charged in the Northern District of Texas with conspiring to commit computer fraud and abuse, committing computer fraud and abuse, and conspiracy to commit money laundering.
Prosecutors allege Antropenko and co-conspirators used Zeppelin ransomware to target victims worldwide, encrypt and steal their data, and demand ransom payments to decrypt or withhold publication of the stolen information. The seized assets are alleged proceeds of ransomware activity and were allegedly laundered through services including ChipMixer, a cryptocurrency mixing platform dismantled in a 2023 international law enforcement operation.
The FBI’s Dallas and Norfolk Field Offices and the Virtual Assets Unit are investigating the case. Trial Attorney Benjamin Bleiberg of the Criminal Division’s Computer Crime and Intellectual Property Section (CCIPS) and Assistant U.S. Attorney Jongwoo “Daniel” Chung for the Northern District of Texas are prosecuting, with support from other federal prosecutors.
An indictment is an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
