Big news from the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ)! They’ve just announced the extradition of a key developer tied to the notorious LockBit ransomware group. According to officials, this individual, Rotislav Pandev, has admitted to his role in crafting code and providing expertise for the cybercriminal operation. And get this – he was paid for his work in digital assets.

Law enforcement reports indicate Pandev was initially picked up in Israel back in August, acting on a provisional arrest request from the United States. The 51-year-old was then sent to the US and made his first court appearance before US Magistrate Judge Andre M. Espinosa. The judge has decided Pandev will remain in custody as he awaits trial.

LockBit ransomware developer to face the music in US court

Court documents reveal a bigger picture: Pandev’s alleged involvement with LockBit stretches back to the group’s beginnings in 2019, continuing until around February 2024. During this period, Pandev and his fellow cybercriminals helped propel LockBit to the forefront of the ransomware scene. In fact, some experts considered them the most aggressive and damaging ransomware gang out there.

The charges detail the staggering scale of LockBit’s operations, claiming they hit at least 2,500 victims across a whopping 120 countries. Their targets were incredibly diverse, ranging from everyday individuals and small businesses to massive corporations, hospitals, government bodies, and even law enforcement agencies. It’s estimated that around 1,800 of their victims were located right here in the United States during their reign of cyber terror.

LockBit members are accused of raking in a massive $500 million in ransom payments from their victims. But the damage goes way beyond that – the total losses, including lost business and the cost of dealing with these attacks, are estimated to be in the billions of dollars. Authorities explain that LockBit’s structure included developers like Pandev who were responsible for creating the malicious code and keeping their operations running smoothly behind the scenes.

The group also utilized “affiliates,” essentially the front-line attackers who deployed the ransomware and demanded payments. Once a ransom was paid, the money was divvied up between the group members, everyone getting their cut of the ill-gotten gains.

Further details from the complaint reveal that after Pandev was arrested in Israel, investigators found some seriously incriminating evidence on his computer. This included administrative credentials for a dark web server and code for various versions of the LockBit “builder”—tools used by affiliates to create custom ransomware for different targets. They also uncovered “StealBit,” a tool used to siphon off stolen data during attacks.

US authorities are determined to bring all LockBit members to justice

In interviews given after his Israeli arrest, Pandev reportedly admitted to his work for LockBit, describing his tasks as involving coding, development, and consulting. He also acknowledged receiving payments consistent with those being investigated by U.S. authorities. He even pinpointed a key project: creating code to disable antivirus software and infect networks.

Pandev also confessed to developing malware that could force all printers on a victim’s network to print out LockBit’s ransom demands. Beyond that, he admitted to writing other pieces of malware and providing technical guidance to the LockBit operation.

Pandev’s capture comes on the heels of a major disruption of LockBit’s infrastructure in February 2024, spearheaded by authorities in the United Kingdom. This international effort involved collaboration between the Justice Department, the FBI, and law enforcement agencies around the globe. Alongside Pandev, seven other individuals associated with the group have also been charged.

Dmitry Yuryevich Khoroshev, identified as the mastermind behind LockBit – its primary creator, developer, and administrator – had his indictment unsealed in May. According to the indictment, he started developing LockBit back in September 2019 and remained the administrator until 2024, even recruiting others but operating under the alias “LockBitSupp.” The United States Transnational Organized Crime (TOC) Rewards Program is now offering a significant $10 million reward for information leading to his arrest.

“Rostislav Panev’s extradition to the District of New Jersey sends a clear message: if you’re part of the LockBit ransomware scheme, the United States will track you down and hold you accountable,” stated United States Attorney John Giordano. He emphasized that even as criminals use increasingly sophisticated methods, his office, alongside other law enforcement partners, will use every tool at their disposal to catch and prosecute them.

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Source: cryptopolitan.com