A Russian hacker has been jailed by the U.S. District Court in Atlanta on charges of cyber fraud, the state-run Russian Legal Information Agency reported Thursday.
Alexander Panin was handed the 9 1/2-year prison sentence after being found guilty of creating the SpyEye spyware program. The program allowed him and others to access personal data to withdraw money from bank accounts in multiple countries.
Panin had amassed the personal data of 1.4 million of users worldwide, as well as selling on versions of the malware to up to 150 different people, The Associated Press news agency reported. Prosecutors estimated the total damage at nearly $1 billion.
A second hacker, Algerian Hamza Bendelladj was sentenced to 15 years in prison.
A Message from The Moscow Times:
Dear readers,
We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent."
These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia.
We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help.
Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact.
By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us.
Remind me later.
