Denis Mihaqlovic Dubnikov, 29, of Russia, made his initial appearance in federal court Wednesday in Portland. His trial should begin Oct. 4.
Dubnikov laundered the proceeds of ransomware attacks on individuals and organizations throughout the United States and abroad, according to the indictment. Dubnikov laundered ransom payments extracted from victims of Ryuk ransomware attacks.
Ryuk has been used to target thousands of victims worldwide across a variety of sectors. In October 2020, law enforcement officials specifically identified Ryuk as an imminent and increasing cybercrime threat to hospitals and healthcare providers in the United States.
After receiving ransom payments, Ryuk actors, Dubnikov and his co-conspirators, and others involved in the scheme, then engaged in various financial transactions, including international financial transactions, to conceal the nature, source, location, ownership, and control of the ransom proceeds, according to the indictment.
In July 2019, Dubnikov laundered more than $400,000 in Ryuk ransom proceeds. Those involved in the conspiracy laundered at least $70 million in ransom proceeds.
If convicted, Dubnikov faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison.