Cybersecurity Experts Turn Cybercriminals, Plead Guilty to Ransomware Conspiracy
Three former cybersecurity professionals, Ryan Goldberg from Georgia, Kevin Martin from Texas, and Angelo Martino from Florida, have pleaded guilty to conspiring to deploy ransomware. Between April and November 2023, the group used Blackcat/ALPHV ransomware to target multiple victims, successfully extorting $1.2 million in Bitcoin from one. The U.S. Department of Justice reports that law enforcement seized $10 million in assets from Martino, including digital currency, vehicles, a food truck, and a luxury fishing boat. Martino, who worked as a ransomware negotiator, allegedly provided confidential information about victims to the attackers, including insurance policy limits, which helped maximize extortion demands. He later launched his own ransomware attacks. All three men face up to 20 years in prison.