Two members of the Lockbit ransomware group pleaded guilty and face up to 25 and 45 years in prison, respectively

ChainCatcher news, according to News.bitcoin, the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) revealed that two foreign nationals have pleaded guilty in Newark federal court for their involvement in the Lockbit ransomware organization. Russian citizen Ruslan Magomedovich Astamirov and dual Canadian-Russian national Mikhail Vasiliev have been identified as members of the Lockbit organization.

The group has been active since January 2020, targeting over 2,500 victims across 120 countries and extorting approximately $500 million in ransom. Their victims include hospitals, educational institutions, and commercial enterprises. Astamirov and Vasiliev used Lockbit ransomware to encrypt and steal data, demanding ransom and threatening to publish information if their demands were not met. They were arrested in 2023 and 2022, respectively, and could face up to 25 years and 45 years in prison.