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Maksim Silnikau sentenced to 16 years for Ransom Cartel ransomware attacks

Law Enforcement
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Maksim Silnikau was sentenced to 16 years in prison in Alexandria, Virginia for creating and running Ransom Cartel, a ransomware-as-a-service operation he built in 2021. The Justice Department says the group attacked at least 18 companies between 2021 and 2023, while Silnikau used stolen credentials, affiliate tooling, and cryptocurrency mixers to manage intrusions and ransom payments. The case also includes reported losses of more than $6.7 million, attempted extortion of at least $5.2 million, and ransom payments of $125,000 and $300,000 tied to separate firms. The prosecution remains partially open because a New Jersey case tied to Silnikau is unresolved.

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Timeline

  1. 06.08.2026 02:00 3 articles · 1d ago

    Maksim Silnikau sentenced to 16 years for Ransom Cartel ransomware attacks

    Legal Policy Action Update

    The U.S. Department of Justice said Maksim Silnikau, the creator and administrator of the Ransom Cartel ransomware operation, was sentenced to 16 years in prison for ransomware attacks against at least 18 companies worldwide. Prosecutors said he began developing Ransom Cartel in May 2021, launched it publicly in December 2021, recruited affiliates through underground forums, supplied stolen credentials and encryptors, coordinated ransom negotiations and payments, and routed proceeds through cryptocurrency mixers. The case also covered attacks between 2021 and 2023 that stole corporate data, attempted to extort at least $5.2 million, and caused more than $6.7 million in identified losses; one law firm paid $125,000 after nearly a month of disruption, another paid $300,000 after suspending operations for almost a month.

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