On Friday, the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) announced the indictment of three Russian nationals—Roman Vitalyevich Ostapenko, Alexander Evgenievich Oleynik, and Anton Vyachlavovich Tarasov—on charges related to cryptocurrency money laundering.
The trio is accused of running illicit services that facilitated the laundering of cryptocurrency for criminal activities.
According to the DOJ, the defendants operated Bender.io and Sinbad.io, cryptocurrency mixing platforms that enabled criminals to obscure the origins of illegally obtained funds. These platforms were described as “safe havens” for laundering proceeds from crimes such as ransomware attacks and wire fraud.
Brent Wible, principal deputy assistant attorney general of the DOJ’s Criminal Division, highlighted their role in aiding cybercriminals in a press release.
Both platforms were seized during an international law enforcement operation in 2023. Investigators suspect they were utilized by North Korean hackers and ransomware groups to launder millions of dollars in stolen cryptocurrency.
North Korea’s cybercriminals, in particular, have become increasingly adept at stealing and laundering digital assets, which are often used to fund the country’s regime.
While Ostapenko and Oleynik were apprehended on December 1, 2024, Tarasov remains a fugitive, according to the DOJ.
The department emphasized the threat posed by the trio, stating that their operations supported state-sponsored hackers and other cybercriminals, thereby compromising public safety and national security.
Ostapenko faces charges of money laundering and running an unlicensed money transmission business, while Oleynik and Tarasov are charged with conspiracy to commit money laundering and operating an unlicensed money transmitting business.
If convicted, they could face sentences of up to 30 years in prison.
The indictment underscores the DOJ’s commitment to cracking down on cryptocurrency-related crimes, particularly those that enable cybercriminals to profit from hacking and ransomware schemes.