Multi-million dollar rewards offered for information leading to capture of 2 Russian cybercrime fugitives
Left: Roman Olegovich Zolotarev; Right: Konstantin Lopatin
WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of State's Transnational Organized Crime (TOC) Rewards Program is offering multi-million dollar rewards for information leading to the arrest and/or conviction of two alleged Russian cyber criminals identified during a far-reaching federal investigation into a worldwide online marketplace for stolen personal and financial information.
The two fugitives, Roman Olegovich Zolotarev and Konstantin Lopatin, were indicted following a probe spearheaded by Las Vegas-based agents with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) into a global, Internet-based criminal enterprise known as Carder-su. Members of the enterprise trafficked in and manufactured stolen and counterfeit identification documents and access devices such as debit and credit cards, and engaged in identity theft and financial fraud crimes.
A reward of up to $2 million is offered for information on Zolotarev, known online as "AdminCI" who is believed to have served as the leader of Carder.su. Up to $1 million is being offered for information on Lopatin, known as "Graf," who allegedly participated in the organization as a key member. Both are believed to be at large in Russia.
"We applaud the State Department's decision to feature these fugitives in the Transnational Organized Crime Rewards Program," said U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Director Sarah R. Saldaña. "Members of this group likely thought they could escape detection and elude justice by hiding in cyberspace. We want to prove them wrong."
Carder.su is responsible for at least $50 million in losses. To date, 30 individuals have been convicted, and 25 others are pending trial or – like Zolotarev and Lopatin – are fugitives. The cases are being prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Nevada and the Department of Justice's Organized Crime and Gang Section.
Congress established the TOC Rewards Program in 2013 in order to assist efforts to disrupt and dismantle significant transnational criminal organizations. The U.S. Department of State's Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL) manages the program. It is a key element of the White House Strategy to Combat Transnational Organized Crime.
More information about Zolotarev and Lopatin is available at the TOC Rewards Program. Anyone with information on these individuals should contact HSI via the toll-free HSI Tip Line at (866) 347-2423 or the nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate. You may also submit a tip online. All information will be kept strictly confidential.
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