Kosovo man pleads guilty to running online criminal marketplace BlackDB

Kosovo citizen Liridon Masurica, 33, of Gjilan, known as @blackdb, pleaded guilty to running the online criminal marketplace BlackDB[.]cc. He was arrested on 12 December 2024 and extradited to the United States, with the FBI-led investigation supported by Kosovo Police’s Cybercrime Directorate. The marketplace has been active since 2018 and offered for sale compromised credentials and personally identifying information used for tax fraud, credit card fraud, and identity theft.

Masurica was charged in the United States with six fraud-related counts and, according to the DoJ press release, faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in federal prison, although he also faces up to 55 years in prison for conspiracy and using over 15 unauthorized access devices across six charges. He appeared in court on 12 May after extradition on 9 May.

The case was pursued with international cooperation, including involvement from the Kosovan authorities and the US Attorney for the Middle District of Florida, Gregory W. Kehoe. according to DoJ.