Category Archives: Aleksei Burkov

Lawmakers Probe Early Release of Top RU Cybercrook

Posted on by

Aleksei Burkov, a cybercriminal who long operated two of Russia’s most exclusive underground hacking forums, was arrested in 2015 by Israeli authorities. The Russian government fought Burkov’s extradition to the U.S. for four years — even arresting and jailing an Israeli woman to force a prisoner swap. That effort failed: Burkov was sent to America, pleaded guilty, and was sentenced to nine years in prison. But a little more than a year later, he was quietly released and deported back to Russia. Now some Republican lawmakers are asking why a Russian hacker once described as “an asset of supreme importance” was allowed to shorten his stay. Continue reading Lawmakers Probe Early Release of Top RU Cybercrook→

Sergey Pavlovich, wanted by US on hacking-related charges since 2008, was ‘surprised’ by Russian arrest

Posted on by

The accused cybercriminal was in the restaurant of the hotel where he was staying in St. Petersburg when two Russian police officers arrived. Sergey Pavlovich, an admitted former scammer charged in the U.S. for his alleged role with a forum where thieves bought and sold stolen credit card numbers, was taken into custody on Nov. 1. Exiting the Grand Hotel Emerald, an upscale establishment just blocks away from the Neva River, Pavlovich now says he was “surprised” to be under arrest. After years of living openly in Russia and writing a book about his exploits, the 38-year-old suddenly found himself behind bars in a police station, locked up on what he says was a warrant issued by Interpol. They also appeared while Pavlovich was eating a meal of Kiev chicken cutlet and beer, he told CyberScoop. Police waited until he finished eating to take him to jail, he now claims, […]

The post Sergey Pavlovich, wanted by US on hacking-related charges since 2008, was ‘surprised’ by Russian arrest appeared first on CyberScoop.

Continue reading Sergey Pavlovich, wanted by US on hacking-related charges since 2008, was ‘surprised’ by Russian arrest→

Convicted scammer who had starring role in dispute between Russia, Israel unexpectedly deported

Posted on by

A convicted Russian scammer who was the focus of an international standoff was deported to his home country 14 months after receiving a long prison sentence in the U.S., Russian media reported. Officers from Russia’s Ministry of Internal Affairs detained Aleksei Burkov at Sheremetyevo Airport in Moscow following his deportation from the U.S., the state-owned media conglomerate RIA reported on Sept. 28. The move comes after an American court sentenced Burkov to nine years in a U.S. prison after he pleaded guilty to charges related to operating two illicit web forums that hackers used to trade stolen data and pool their resources. Israeli authorities initially arrested Burkov in November 2015, sparking a legal fight over extradition between Russia, Israel and the U.S. Kremlin officials spent years trying to convince an Israeli judge to send Burkov to Russia, where he reportedly faces separate charges. When it became clear that Israeli would put […]

The post Convicted scammer who had starring role in dispute between Russia, Israel unexpectedly deported appeared first on CyberScoop.

Continue reading Convicted scammer who had starring role in dispute between Russia, Israel unexpectedly deported→

Admitted Russian scammer Aleksei Burkov sentenced to 9 years by US court

Posted on by

A U.S. judge has sentenced an admitted Russian scammer to nine years in prison, marking the likely end of a years-long legal saga that has involved secretive cybercriminal forums, high-level political negotiations and a proposed prisoner swap. Aleksei Burkov, 30, appeared in federal court in Alexandria, Va., to hear his sentence. The normally clean-cut Burkov appeared unshaven and with longer hair and wearing a mask as he spoke to the court through a translator. “I repent for my actions and regret my behavior in the past,” he said in a low voice. “In my childhood I met some hackers and I chose the wrong path. Only in jail did I realize how much of a wrong path my life took.” The 108-month sentence will incorporate time already served, meaning Burkov likely will spend another four and a half years in prison before he is released. The Russian man pleaded guilty in January to […]

The post Admitted Russian scammer Aleksei Burkov sentenced to 9 years by US court appeared first on CyberScoop.

Continue reading Admitted Russian scammer Aleksei Burkov sentenced to 9 years by US court→

Russian Cybercrime Boss Burkov Pleads Guilty

Posted on by

Aleksei Burkov, an ultra-connected Russian hacker once described as “an asset of supreme importance” to Moscow, has pleaded guilty in a U.S. court to running a site that sold stolen payment card data and to administering a highly secretive crime forum that counted among its members some of the most elite Russian cybercrooks. Continue reading Russian Cybercrime Boss Burkov Pleads Guilty→

Accused scammer Burkov to plead guilty to ‘some’ charges after extradition dispute

Posted on by

A Russian man who has spent months at the center of an international political dispute is slated to plead guilty to hacking-related charges this week in Virginia. Aleksei Burkov faces criminal counts including access device fraud and conspiracy to commit identity theft in connection with allegedly operating two cybercriminal forums where visitors bought and sold stolen information worth $20 million. The 29-year-old initially pleaded not guilty during his first appearance in the Eastern District Court of Virginia, though a change-of-plea hearing now is scheduled for Jan. 23. “He will be pleading [guilty] to some, but not all of the original charges,” said Gregory Stambuagh, Burkov’s defense attorney. He declined further comment. Burkov was arrested in Israel in 2015, then extradited to the U.S. in November 2019 after exhausting his appeals. The  St. Petersburg native operated two hacking forums, Cardplanet.cc and Direct Connection, according to court documents filed last week. Through Cardplanet, Burkov […]

The post Accused scammer Burkov to plead guilty to ‘some’ charges after extradition dispute appeared first on CyberScoop.

Continue reading Accused scammer Burkov to plead guilty to ‘some’ charges after extradition dispute→

Aleksei Burkov, Russian accused of operating ‘elite’ hacking forum, pleads not guilty

Posted on by

The accused Russian scammer at center of a geopolitical standoff pleaded not guilty Friday to allegations that he operated two hacking forums where members bought and sold payment data worth roughly $20 million. Aleksei Burkov appeared in the Eastern District Court of Virginia to refute charges including computer intrusion, identity theft and other fraud-related accusations. The 29-year-old St. Petersburg native arrived in the U.S. on Nov. 12 from Israel after a prolonged extradition battle in which the Russian government tried coercing Israeli officials into sending Burkov to Russia, rather than the U.S. Burkov appeared relaxed to the point of laughing at a joke Judge Thomas Ellis made about his own penchant for eating ice cream in the former Soviet Union. The defendant wore a dark green jumpsuit and had short hair. Defense attorney Gregory Stambaugh said Burkov has been in good spirits, a mood the attorney described as “amazing” under the circumstances. […]

The post Aleksei Burkov, Russian accused of operating ‘elite’ hacking forum, pleads not guilty appeared first on CyberScoop.

Continue reading Aleksei Burkov, Russian accused of operating ‘elite’ hacking forum, pleads not guilty→

Alleged mastermind behind $20m stolen-card site extradited to US

Posted on by

Aleksei Burkov allegedly ran Cardplanet, advertised as the only shop with a guarantee: your stolen card will work, or you get a new one! Continue reading Alleged mastermind behind $20m stolen-card site extradited to US→