TWO US cybersecurity professionals have been sentenced to prison over their roles in ransomware attacks, with Ryan Goldberg of Georgia and Kevin Martin of Texas each receiving a four-year term after pleading guilty to conspiracy to obstruct or affect interstate commerce by extortion. A third participant, Angelo Martino of Florida, also pleaded guilty and awaits sentencing, while all three worked at cybersecurity firms, two as ransomware negotiators.
They targeted victims using the BlackCat (ALPHV) ransomware, sharing 20% of the ransom with the cybercrime operation’s administrators and laundering their 80% cut. Authorities said the group received roughly $1.2 million from one victim, and more than 1,000 organisations were targeted in BlackCat attacks between November 2021 and December 2023, culminating in a later $22 million ransom and an exit scam. Martino’s sentencing is scheduled for 9 July.