Title: Russian Cybercriminal Maksim Yakubets Charged with International Bank Fraud Schemes: $5 Million Reward for Info leading to His Arrest

Announcement of Criminal Charges against Maksim V. Yakubets (“aqua”) and Igor Turashev

The United States Department of Justice (DoJ) and the United Kingdom’s National Crime Agency (NCA) announced the unsealing of criminal charges against Russian citizens Maksim V. Yakubets (age 32, also known as “aqua”) and Igor Turashev in connection with two major international computer hacking and bank fraud schemes from 2009 to present.

Press Conference and Statements

At a press conference, Assistant Attorney General Brian A. Benczkowski, U.S. Attorneys Scott W. Brady and Joseph P. Kelly, FBI Deputy Director David Bowdich, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary James A. Walsh of the State Department’s Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs, and NCA Director Rob Jones made the following statements:

Assistant Attorney General Benczkowski: Maksim Yakubets is accused of a decade-long cybercrime spree involving two of the most damaging pieces of financial malware ever used. There were tens of millions of dollars in losses worldwide.
U.S. Attorney Brady: Yakubets and Turashev’s activities represent one of the most sophisticated transnational cybercrime syndicates in the world.

Reward for Information on Maksim Yakubets

The DoJ revealed a reward of up to $5 million under the Transnational Organized Crime Rewards Program for information leading to Yakubets’ arrest and/or conviction, the largest such reward offered for a cybercriminal to date.

Ten-Count Indictment for Yakubets and Turashev

A ten-count indictment, unsealed in Pittsburgh, charges Yakubets and Turashev for their roles in the distribution of Bugat malware. Bugat malware could defeat antivirus and protective measures, automate theft of confidential information, and assist in ransomware installations. The malware targeted individuals and companies globally.

Yakubets is the alleged oversaw and managed the Bugat conspiracy.
Turashev handled various functions, including botnet administration.

In addition to this, Yakubets was charged in Lincoln with conspiracy to commit bank fraud in relation to the “Zeus” malware.

Investigations and Support from International Partners

The FBI’s Pittsburgh and Omaha Field Offices led the investigations, supported by the FBI’s Major Cyber Crimes Unit and Global Operations and Targeting Unit, and significant assistance from the Criminal Division’s Office of International Affairs and the Department’s National Security Division.

The charges are accusations, and the defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty. Law enforcement actions related to these two prosecutions were also supported by the efforts of international partners in The Netherlands, Germany, Belarus, Ukraine, and Russia.

Turashev pleaded guilty in 2015 in relation to the Zeus scheme in a UK court.
Ukrainian nationals Yuriy Konovaleko and Yevhen Kulibaba were extradited from the UK and completed prison sentences in the US.

These earlier cases demonstrate the ongoing and collaborative international efforts to disrupt cybercriminal activities.