Russian Hackers Charged in New Jersey with Multimillion-Dollar Cybercrimes

U.S. Attorney Announces Charges Against Two Russian Nationals for Extensive Hacking and Fraud Schemes

NEWARK, N.J. – In a major cybersecurity operation, the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of New Jersey has unveiled indictments against two Russian nationals, Aleksey Timofeyevich Stroganov and Tim Stigal. These charges, announced by U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger, relate to their alleged involvement in sophisticated hacking and fraud activities.

The Case Against Stroganov and Stigal

Aleksey Timofeyevich Stroganov:
Stroganov, who used multiple aliases including “Aleksei Stroganov,” “flint,” and “Gursky Oleg,” is accused of orchestrating a criminal conspiracy from May 2007 to July 2017. This operation involved hacking into the computer networks of individuals and companies to steal debit and credit card numbers, along with personal identifying information. The scope of the data breach is staggering, involving hundreds of millions of credit card and banking accounts. Stroganov allegedly managed a network of resellers and vendors to distribute this stolen data on the dark net, resulting in over $35 million in financial losses.

Charges against Stroganov include conspiracy to commit wire fraud, multiple counts of wire fraud, bank fraud, and aggravated identity theft. These charges carry significant penalties, with wire and bank fraud charges alone potentially leading to a maximum of 30 years imprisonment and substantial fines.

Tim Stigal:
From April 2014 to March 2016, Stigal, also known as “Key,” engaged in multiple conspiracies to trade stolen payment card information from various U.S. corporations. In a notable twist, Stigal attempted to extort one of the victim corporations, threatening to leak their customers' stolen personal data unless a ransom was paid.

Stigal faces charges including wire fraud conspiracy, wire fraud, computer fraud extortion, access device fraud, and aggravated identity theft. These carry maximum sentences ranging from 5 to 20 years per count, plus mandatory prison terms for aggravated identity theft.

Investigative Efforts and Legal Representation

The U.S. Secret Service, under Special Agent in Charge Aaron Hatley, spearheaded the investigation against Stroganov and Stigal. IRS - Criminal Investigation, led by Special Agent in Charge Tammy Tomlins, also played a crucial role in the investigation against Stigal. Assistant U.S. Attorney Anthony P. Torntore, Chief of the Cybercrime Unit in Newark, and Assistant Deputy Chiefs William A. Hall Jr. and Adrienne Rose of the Criminal Division’s Computer Crime and Intellectual Property Section, are representing the government in this case.

As the legal process unfolds, it is important to remember that the charges and allegations in the indictments are merely accusations. The defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty. This case underscores the ongoing challenges in cybersecurity and the importance of international cooperation in combating cybercrime.