DOJ arrests two, seizes 187 devices in North Korean laptop farm crackdown in Texas
The operation affected more than 70 U.S. companies and generated about $3 million, prosecutors said.
- On Tuesday, the DOJ announced the arrests of Michael James Bostelle of Pennsylvania and Juan Ceclilio Pena Carrillo of Texas for facilitating a scheme helping North Korean IT workers steal identities and obtain fraudulent employment at U.S. companies.
- The North Korea-directed operation relies on U.S.-based "laptop farms" where facilitators host company-issued devices, allowing overseas workers to log in remotely and appear as if operating from within the United States.
- During "Operation Lone Star Roundup," federal agents raided more than 40 Texas locations between Sept. 21 and Sept. 25, seizing more than 185 devices; the fraud impacted more than 70 U.S. companies and generated at least $3 million.
- Prosecutors charged Bostelle and Pena with wire fraud, while also indicting 10 China-based operators; alleged recruiter Tey Michael Nolte was named in the indictment but not charged.
- The investigation remains ongoing as authorities track the scheme, which funnels 85% to 90% of worker earnings to North Korea to support the regime's nuclear weapons and ballistic missile programs.
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US officials say they've delivered a major hit to one of North Korea's steelthiest moneymakers: remote tech jobs at American companies. Officials say the FBI last month broke up more than 40 " laptop farms" in Texas and sixteend nearly 200 devices used by North Korean IT workers posing as Americans,...
FBI: Texas ‘Laptop Farms’ Turned American Paychecks Into Cash For North Korea’s Nukes
Federal agents searched more than 40 Texas homes and seized 187 laptops and other devices in a crackdown on a network that allegedly used stolen American identities to obtain U.S. jobs and generate money for North Korea’s weapons programs, federal authorities announced Tuesday. The FBI carried out Operation Lonestar Roundup from September 21 to 25. […]
FBI seizes 180+ devices in Texas tied to North Korean identity theft scheme, DOJ says
Federal agents disrupted a online network in Texas that officials said helped North Korean IT workers illegally access U.S. corporate systems using stolen or fake American identities to generate money for North Korea’s weapon programs.
US charges 14 over North Korean IT worker scheme at more than 70 companies
The US Justice Department has charged 14 people over a North Korean job scam, announced on Tuesday. North Korean IT workers used stolen names to get remote jobs at more than 70 US firms. The workers earned about $3 million, which went to North Korean groups under US sanctions, prosecutors believe. The firm works in […] This story continues at The Next Web
The U.S. Department of Justice warns that pirates working for the North Korean regime are increasingly relying on Americans to facilitate penetration of American companies. A warning from the U.S. Department of Justice: American companies hacked by North Koreans warning the U.S. Department of Justice that pirates working for the North Korean regime are increasingly relying on Americans to facilitate corporate penetration.
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