US DOJ Recovers $15M Taken by North Korean Cybercriminals and Obtains Several Guilty Pleas

DOJ Seizure of Stolen Crypto: The U.S. Department of Justice has seized over $15 million in stolen cryptocurrency linked to North Korean hackers, specifically the group APT38, as part of ongoing civil forfeiture efforts following a series of cyberattacks in 2023.

FBI Investigation and Court Actions: The FBI is seeking court approval to forfeit the seized funds, which were part of a broader scheme to steal and launder cryptocurrency, with indications pointing to major hacks on platforms like Poloniex and CoinsPaid.

Guilty Pleas in Fraud Scheme: Five individuals, including four U.S. citizens, have pleaded guilty to charges related to helping North Korean IT workers infiltrate U.S. companies, facilitating identity theft and fraudulent activities that generated significant revenue for North Korea.

International Collaboration Against Cybercrime: The case highlights North Korea's reliance on remote IT work to bypass sanctions, with one Ukrainian national also pleading guilty for selling stolen identities to North Korean workers, further complicating international efforts to combat cybercrime.