14 Individuals Federally Charged in Remote IT Worker Conspiracy Benefiting North Korea, Affecting U.S. Businesses
Fourteen U.S. citizens and Chinese nationals have been federally charged in connection with a multi-year fraudulent scheme involving remote IT workers, which allegedly generated approximately $3 million in revenue for the North Korean government. The U.S. Attorney's Office unsealed a 58-page indictment following a year-long investigation. The defendants are accused of wire fraud conspiracy, money laundering conspiracy, conspiracy to commit identity theft, and aggravated identity theft. The scheme involved facilitators in the U.S. assisting individuals working on behalf of North Korea to secure remote IT positions with over 70 U.S. companies across various sectors, including healthcare, communications, cyber support, retail, and manufacturing. These North Korean workers allegedly used "laptop farms" hosted by U.S.-based defendants to appear as if they were working remotely within the U.S., subsequently transferring their earnings to entities connected to North Korea.
