The U.S. Department of Justice has charged Rostislav Panev, an Israeli-Russian national, for his role as a developer in the notorious LockBit ransomware group, emphasizing his significant impact on its expansion and operational success since 2019.
LockBit has emerged as one of the most destructive ransomware organizations worldwide, having targeted over 2,500 victims across 120 countries and resulting in over $500 million in ransom payments.
Panev's attorney claims that he was merely a computer technician focused on software development, and that he had no knowledge of or involvement in the group's primary criminal activities.
During the arrest, investigators found crucial digital evidence linking Panev to ongoing LockBit operations, including administrator credentials for a dark web repository housing the ransomware’s source code.
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