DOJ cybercrime task force shows results

effective operation of the convention amongst its members.

  • International law enforcement training — The department, in cooperation with other government agencies, trains foreign police, prosecutors and judges on techniques of investigating and prosecuting cybercrime and the importance of obtaining and preserving electronic evidence. Throughout the last year, department attorneys have provided training in Russia and South Africa, and provided regional training in sub-Sahara Africa and in Organization of American States countries.
  • International law enforcement cooperation — Through the operation of a 24/7 network and other operations, the department seeks to maximize law enforcement cooperation through joint or parallel investigations with other nations.
  • Cybercrime and international organized crime - The department is working with select countries that are havens for cyber criminals targeting U.S. citizens and commerce. For example, as part of the International Organized Crime (IOC) strategy, the Department is working closely with law enforcement and prosecutors in Romania to target cyber thieves who prey on U.S. victims. A series of charges have been filed in Romania, with parallel charges in U.S. courts in California, Connecticut and Ohio.

    • Recent prosecutions (CY 2008)
    • US v. E-Gold, et al. — Recent guilty pleas by the digital currency organization, and its owners, that provided untraceable money transmitting used in credit card fraud, child exploitation and Ponzi schemes (District of Columbia).

    Spam prosecution

    • US v. Soloway — 47-month sentence for criminal spam scheme (Western District of Washington).
    • US v. Vitale — 30-month sentence for criminal spam scheme (Southern District of New York).
    • US v. Ralsky, et al. — Indictment for illegal spam used as part of financial fraud scheme (Eastern District of Michigan).

    Online frauds affecting financial institution

    • US v. Ramanathan — Guilty plea to online hack/pump/dump scheme involving online brokerages (District of Nebraska).
    • US v. Davis — 72-month sentence for falsifying account information from 11 financial institutions and 62 account holders (Western District of Texas).
    • US v. Holhoko, et al. — Indictments in online extortion schemes affecting online brokerage firm (District of Montana).
    • US v. Simbaqueba — 9-year sentence for using software to steal bank and payroll account usernames and passwords (Southern District of Florida).
    • US v. Largent — Indictment to steal from online brokerage, involving opening more than 50,000 fictitious accounts (Eastern District of California).

    Online identity theft

    • US v. Sullivan — 57-month sentence for stealing personal identity information of more than 5 million people (Middle District of Florida).
    • US v. Kalonji - Indictment for stealing personal identity information of more than 150 persons from online gambling site (Southern District of New York).
    • US v. Brown — 66-month sentence for identity theft relating to stolen credit card information (District of Arizona).
    • US v. Thompson, et al. — Indictments of 11 persons for attempting to steal the identities of more than 50 people (Middle District of Louisiana).

    Worms, trojans, botnet

    • US v. Milmont — Guilty plea for operating an illegal botnet to spread worms (Central District of California).
    • US v. King — Guilty plea for operating an illegal botnet to conduct denial of service attacks upon Internet commerce sites (Eastern District of California).

    Online fraud scheme

    • US v. Carranza — Indictment for money laundering regarding online fraud schemes (Eastern District of New York).
    • US v. Bently — Conviction in online fraud scheme to illegally disseminate adware as part of online fraud scheme (Northern District of Florida).

    Computer intrusions to steal data or damage computer

    • US v. Oson — 63 month sentence for hacking into health care clinic’s computers to delete data (Southern District of California).
    • US v. Duann — Indictment of former systems administrator for hacking into computer system used to track organ donors (Southern District of Texas).
    • US v. Munn — Improper access by district attorney employee to obtain sensitive investigative database information for commercial use (Middle District of Louisiana).