US DOJ Seizes $2.8M in Cryptocurrency Linked to Ransomware Operation

The United States Department of Justice has confiscated over $2.8 million in cryptocurrency tied to a ransomware scheme orchestrated by Dmitry Yuryevich Antropenko. Indicted on charges of conspiracy to commit computer fraud and money laundering, Antropenko allegedly employed Zeppelin ransomware to target individuals, businesses, and public-sector organizations globally, including within the U.S.

Prosecutors assert that Antropenko and his accomplices stole sensitive data, demanding payments to restore access. The illicit proceeds were laundered through ChipMixer, a now-defunct mixing service. Six federal warrants unsealed this week in Texas, Virginia, and California authorized the seizures.

Cybercrime losses in the U.S. surged to $16.6 billion in 2024, with crypto-related complaints nearing 150,000 and losses hitting $9.3 billion—a 66% annual increase. Ransomware remains a primary contributor. Since 2020, the DOJ's CCIPS unit has secured over 180 cybercrime convictions and recovered more than $350 million.