FARMERSBURG — A 26-year-old Russian national has been sentenced to 81 months (nearly seven years) in federal prison for his role in a sophisticated global cybercrime network that extorted tens of millions of dollars from American companies.
Aleksei Volkov, of St. Petersburg, Russia, was sentenced Monday in the Southern District of Indiana after pleading guilty to charges stemming from his work as an “initial access broker” for notorious ransomware groups, including Yanluowang.
According to court documents, Volkov operated under the alias “chubaka.kor” between July 2021 and November 2022. Rather than deploying the final ransomware himself, Volkov specialized in the first—and often most difficult—step of a cyberattack: gaining unauthorized entry.
According to investigators, Volkov identified vulnerabilities in corporate networks, ranging from banks and engineering firms to telecommunications providers.
Once inside, he sold this “initial access” to other cybercriminals and ransomware-as-a-service (RaaS) outfits for either a flat fee or a percentage of the final ransom.
His co-conspirators used this access to deploy malware, encrypt data, and demand massive cryptocurrency payments.
In some instances, the groups applied “double extortion” tactics, making harassing phone calls to company executives and launching Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) attacks to further pressure victims into paying.
The Department of Justice reported that Volkov’s activities facilitated dozens of attacks across the United States, including targets in Pennsylvania, California, Michigan, Illinois, and Ohio.
| Category | Amount |
| Actual Losses (Restitution) | $9,167,198.19 |
| Intended Losses (Ransom Demands) | $24,000,000.00+ |
In one specific case unsealed during the proceedings, two victims alone paid a combined $1.5 million in ransoms to restore their systems.
The investigation involved a high degree of international cooperation. Despite living in Russia, Volkov was tracked by the FBI to Rome, Italy, where he was arrested on January 18, 2024. Following his extradition to the United States, his cases from the Eastern District of Pennsylvania and the Southern District of Indiana were consolidated for sentencing.
“The defendant thought he could hide behind a keyboard and evade justice,” said Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva. “This conviction sends a strong message: the FBI will relentlessly pursue cybercriminals who target U.S. companies and consumers.”
Indiana’s Rising Cyber Threat
The sentencing arrives as Indiana officials grapple with a sharp rise in digital attacks. Recent data indicates that Indiana experienced 70% more cybercrime than the U.S. average over the last year, making the disruption of “brokers” like Volkov a top priority for the FBI’s Indianapolis field office.
In addition to his prison term, Volkov has been ordered to pay the full $9.1 million in restitution and must forfeit all computer equipment used in his crimes.
