TechFlow news, May 24 — According to the U.S. Department of Justice, Russian national Rustam Gallyamov has been indicted for leading a global cybercriminal group and developing the notorious Qakbot malware. Authorities have seized over $24 million in cryptocurrency assets linked to the criminal operation, which are planned to be returned to victims.
Gallyamov is charged with operating the Qakbot malware since 2008, infecting more than 700,000 computers worldwide and facilitating major ransomware attacks including Conti, Black Basta, and REvil. In August 2023, during a U.S.-led international operation, authorities seized over 170 bitcoins and more than $4 million in USDT and USDC from Gallyamov.
The operation is part of a joint effort by the United States, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Denmark, the United Kingdom, and Canada to combat cybercrime. If convicted, Gallyamov faces up to 25 years in federal prison.
