Texas Border Enterprise
U.S. Division of Justice
The Division of Justice unsealed six warrants in the U.S. District Courts for the Japanese District of Virginia, the Central District of California, and the Northern District of Texas authorizing the seizure of over $2.8 million in cryptocurrency, $70,000 in money, and a luxurious car. All the cryptocurrency was seized from a cryptocurrency pockets managed by Ianis Aleksandrovich Antropenko, who’s charged by indictment in the Northern District of Texas for conspiring to commit pc fraud and abuse, pc fraud and abuse, and conspiracy to commit cash laundering.
As alleged in the indictment, Antropenko used Zeppelin ransomware to focus on and assault a variety of people, companies, and organizations worldwide, together with in the USA. Particularly, Antropenko and his coconspirators would encrypt and exfiltrate the sufferer’s information, and sometimes demand a ransom fee to decrypt the sufferer’s information, chorus from publishing it, or to rearrange the information’s deletion.
As alleged in the unsealed warrants, the cryptocurrency and other belongings are proceeds of (or had been concerned in laundering the proceeds of) ransomware exercise. These belongings had been laundered in varied methods, together with through the use of the cryptocurrency mixing service ChipMixer, which was taken down in a coordinated worldwide operation in 2023. Antropenko additionally laundered cryptocurrency by exchanging cryptocurrency for money and depositing the money in structured money deposits.
Appearing Assistant Lawyer Basic Matthew R. Galeotti of the Justice Division’s Felony Division, Appearing U.S. Lawyer Nancy Larson for the Northern District of Texas, Particular Agent in Cost Dominique Evans of the FBI Norfolk Discipline Workplace, and Particular Agent in Cost R. Joseph Rothrock of the FBI Dallas Discipline Workplace made the announcement.
The FBI Dallas and Norfolk Discipline Places of work and the Digital Assets Unit are investigating the case.
Trial Lawyer Benjamin Bleiberg of the Laptop Crime and Mental Property Part (CCIPS) and Assistant U.S. Lawyer Jongwoo “Daniel” Chung for the Northern District of Texas are dealing with the case, with help for the forfeiture offered by Assistant U.S. Lawyer Elyse Lyons for the Northern District of Texas. Important help has additionally been offered by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Joseph Kosky and Kevin Hudson for the Japanese District of Virginia.
CCIPS investigates and prosecutes cybercrime in coordination with home and worldwide legislation enforcement companies, usually with help from the non-public sector. Since 2020, CCIPS has secured the conviction of over 180 cybercriminals and obtained courtroom orders for the return of over $350 million in sufferer funds. CCIPS and its companions have additionally disrupted a number of ransomware teams, stopping victims from having to pay over $200 million in ransom funds.
An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed harmless till confirmed responsible past an inexpensive doubt in a courtroom of legislation.
Up to date August 14, 2025
