Two Ukrainian nationals, indicted in 2020, pleaded guilty to financial crimes, according to a news release issued by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Texas.
Victor Vorontsov and Zlata Hanska Muzhuk pleaded guilty on July 12 to three counts of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, money laundering, and bank fraud. The charges stemmed from the pair’s directing a group of money mules to “transfer proceeds of illicit online activity out of the country,” explained U.S. Attorney Chad E. Meacham.
In plea papers, Vorontsov, 40, and Muzhuk, 41, admitted to recruiting money mules to create fake companies and open drop bank accounts. Through the bank accounts, they then received and transferred stolen funds.
Vorontsov and Muzhuk admitted to advertising their services online to cyber actors with whom they then communicated on various messaging platforms. The pair negotiated a portion of the cyber actors’ stolen funds as payment for their services and then went on to direct their money mules to transfer funds from victim accounts in the U.S. to drop accounts located both within the U.S. and abroad.
The two were indicted in February 2020 and later extradited to Dallas from the Czech Republic in March 2021. They now face up to 37 months each in prison. Their sentencing is set for November 15.
“The defendants established a sophisticated money laundering network for the purpose of fraudulently obtaining funds for profit and other illicit activities,” stated F.B.I. Dallas Special Agent in Charge Matthew DeSarno in the new release.
DeSarno further warned that cybercriminals are not protected by geographical borders, promising that the F.B.I. will defend American interests with the strength of its global partnerships and international operations.
Meacham gave assurance that the Justice Department will “strive to combat money laundering and fraud wherever we find it.”
