A U.S. court has sentenced Latvian hacker Deniss Zolotarjovs to more than eight years in prison after he was convicted for his role in ransomware attacks.
The Justice Department said Zolotarjovs worked with Karakurt, a notorious Russian ransomware gang linked to former leaders of the Akira and Conti ransomware groups. The U.S. Treasury had already sanctioned some of those figures over alleged connections to Russian intelligence.
According to prosecutors, Karakurt members targeted U.S. government organizations, disrupted 911 emergency dispatch systems, and stole children’s health information. The DOJ said Zolotarjovs was responsible for increasing pressure on victims who refused to pay the gang’s ransom demands.
His conviction stands out not only because of the prison sentence, but also because U.S. prosecutors said Karakurt relied on access to Russian government databases and law enforcement contacts to threaten victims. The case adds to long-running concerns about links between cybercriminal groups and the Russian state.
Security researchers have repeatedly accused Russia of protecting ransomware gangs and hackers from Western law enforcement, including by refusing to extradite citizens accused of major cyberattacks. U.S. officials have also described Russia as a “safe haven” for cybercriminals and have called ransomware one of the biggest national security threats facing the United States.
The DOJ said Karakurt “fueled corruption” inside the Russian government. Prosecutors said the gang’s connections with officials helped its leaders avoid paying taxes and allowed members to escape compulsory military service by paying bribes.
The Russian Foreign Ministry did not respond to TechCrunch’s request for comment.
According to the DOJ, Karakurt targeted more than 54 companies and collected at least $15 million in ransom payments from victims. The group does not appear to be active now, though ransomware operations often change names or ownership to avoid sanctions.
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Zolotarjovs was arrested in Georgia in 2023 and extradited to the United States in August 2024. He later pleaded guilty.
