The U.S. Department of Justice seized over $2.8 million in cryptocurrency related to a ransomware money laundering case

ChainCatcher News, the U.S. Department of Justice announced that after unsealing six search warrants in federal courts in Virginia, California, and Texas, over $2.8 million in cryptocurrency, $70,000 in cash, and a luxury car were seized. These assets are allegedly related to the ransomware proceeds laundered by Ianis Aleksandrovich Antropenko, who is currently facing charges in the Northern District of Texas.

According to the indictment, Antropenko and his associates deployed Zeppelin ransomware to infiltrate victim systems, encrypt data, and steal information, subsequently demanding ransom payments in exchange for decrypting files, preventing leaks, or deleting stolen data. Victims include individuals, businesses, and institutions both domestically and internationally.

The search warrants reveal that Antropenko laundered the ransom proceeds through various channels, including the use of ChipMixer—a cryptocurrency mixing service that was dismantled in 2023 by an international law enforcement operation. He also converted cryptocurrency into cash and made incremental deposits into accounts to evade regulation.