Russian National Indicted For Conspiracy To Introduce Malware Into A Computer Network

WASHINGTON – A federal grand jury in the District of Nevada returned an indictment yesterday charging a Russian national for his role in a conspiracy to intentionally cause damage to a protected computer.

Acting Assistant Attorney General Brian C. Rabbitt of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, U.S. Attorney Nicholas A. Trutanich of the District of Nevada, and Special Agent in Charge Aaron C. Rouse of the FBI’s Las Vegas Field Office made the announcement.

The indictment alleges that Egor Igorevich Kriuchkov, 27, a citizen of Russia, attempted to recruit an employee of a company located in Nevada, with the purpose of introducing malicious software into the company’s computer network, extracting data from the network, and thereafter extorting ransom money from the company under the threat of making the extracted data public.

According to the indictment, from about July 16, 2020, to about Aug. 22, 2020, Kriuchkov conspired with associates to recruit an employee to introduce malware into the computer network of the employee’s company. The malware would purportedly provide Kriuchkov and his co-conspirators with access to the data within the computer system. After the malware was introduced, Kriuchkov and his co-conspirators would extract data from the network and then threaten to make the information public, unless the company paid their ransom demand.

If convicted, Kriuchkov faces a statutory maximum sentence of five years in prison and a $250,000 fine. The maximum statutory sentence is prescribed by Congress and is provided here for informational purposes only. Kriuchkov also faces a period of supervised release, restitution, and monetary penalties.

An indictment merely alleges that crimes have been committed. The defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

The investigation was led by the FBI’s Las Vegas Field Office with assistance by the FBI’s Los Angeles and Sacramento Field Offices and the Washoe County (Nevada) Sheriff’s Office.  The case is being prosecuted by Senior Counsel C.S. Heath and Trial Attorney Thomas Dettore of the Criminal Division’s Computer Crime and Intellectual Property Section, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Richard Casper of the District of Nevada.

The year 2020 marks the 150th anniversary of the Department of Justice.  Learn more about the history of our agency at www.Justice.gov/Celebrating150Years.