Technology
Russia Web site of internet fraud 9 years Russian Cyber Criminal
On Friday nine years' jail was sentenced for a Russian computer hacker that facilitated $20 million in credit card fraud and run a sophisticated clearinghouse for international cyber criminals.
According to prosecutors, Aleksei Burkov, from St. Petersburg, Russia, filled out a special niche in the world of cybercrime by identifying his Directory Contact website as 'the most popular criminal web platform.' Once inside, the members could purchase and sell stolen credit card numbers, hacking services and malware and criminals could unite for the launch of programs.
If you have direct access to the finest criminals in the country, you have made the criminal, said Kellen Dwyer at the Sentencing Hearing Friday.
It also featured an arbitration to mediate disputes between participants who made purchases on the Website, spanning from 2009 to 2015, when Burkov was detained.
According to court documents, a second website, Card World, sought to sell robbed credit-card numbers from $3 to $60. More than 150,000 numbers, mainly robbed of US financial institutions, were offered for sale. If a stolen number didn't work, the platform would also have money back guarantees.
In 2015, charges were brought against Burkov. He was eventually detained in Israel and held there for several years while the Russian government argued against extradition and made its own request for extradition. Only November 2019 did he arrive in the US.
The sentence of 9 years was shorter than the prosecution's 15-year limit. For the 4 1/2 years he served, while awaiting sentences, he would also earn credit. He may be out of jail in around three years with credit for good conduct.
Seven years' sentence is demanded by defense lawyers.
Israeli officials suggested that Russia seek Burkov 's release by offering an exchange for the 26-year-old Israeli woman Naama Issachar on charges of marijuana. After working for ten months in January and being forgiven by Russian President Vladimir Putin, she was released for about a week after a US suspect by Burkov.
It is uncertain whether Russia will continue to campaign for the release of Burkov. Judge T.S. Ellis III ordered Burkov to serve his sentence near the DC area to facilitate future talks with his attorney which "I believe should not be explained for reasons."
Gregory Stambaugh the lawyer of Burkov, who asked Burkov to remain in the area, declined to make a comment on whether Burkov may form part of any kind of prisoner exchange.
Burkov excused him in court for his conduct.
He said through an interpreter, "I recognize my guilt and reconsider my life."
The Israeli officials suggested that Russia seek to release Burkov by offering an interchange for the 26-yrs woman Naama Issachar, who in Moscow was imprisoned on marijuana charges for seven years.
