French member of cyber group pleads guilty to $6 million in data theft damages

[Kemarit]

A 22-year-old French citizen from Epinal, France, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud and aggravated identity theft in U.S. District Court in Seattle, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Tessa M. Gorman. Sebastien Raoult, aka Sezyo Kaizen, was arrested last year in Morocco and was extradited to the U.S. in January 2023. Raoult and two co-conspirators were indicted by a grand jury sitting in the Western District of Washington in June 2021.

According to the plea agreement, Raoult and his co-conspirators hacked into protected computers of corporate entities for the theft of confidential information and customer records, including personally identifiable information and financial information. They hacked numerous companies, including companies in Washington State, elsewhere in the United States, and around the world. After Raoult and his co-conspirators hacked companies, a user going by the name ShinyHunters posted hacked data from many of those companies for sale on dark web forums, including RaidForums, EmpireMarket, and Exploit. Between April 2020 and July 2021, ShinyHunters posted sales of hacked data from more than 60 companies. Sometimes ShinyHunters threatened to leak or sell stolen sensitive files if the victim did not pay a ransom.

The conspiracy to commit wire fraud is punishable by a maximum of 27 years in prison. Aggravated identity theft is punishable by a mandatory minimum two-year prison term to follow any other prison sentence imposed in the case.

https://www.justice.gov/usao-wdwa/pr/french-cybercriminal-pleads-guilty-fraud-and-aggravated-identity-theft-hacking-private

So in a nutshell, the groups Modus Operandi is,

- they hacked on the computers of the corporation, stealing confidential information including customer records.
- posted this hacked data from for sale in the dark forums, making money out of it
- another way is to threatened to leak the data from the customers and demanding ransom
- and worst, they used this companies computing power to crypto mine

Hopefully, the full hands of the law will go and punished this cyber criminals. But there could be more plea bargain though, like him pointing the other names of the group to the FBI so that they could be apprehended as well. And the bad thing is that they are going to milk the data that they got, selling it to other groups to exploit it and then used the business entities even more by installing crypto miner without the company's knowledge on what is going on until it's too late.

[Baofeng]

Yeah, 27 years, most likely if he cooperated and being a French nationality, things can be worked out with the FBI and the US government to give him a lenient sentence.

Obviously this group of hackers are sophisticated and highly intelligent individual, it's that they chooses to use on on the dark side of computers and be a criminals. And we we are one of those companies that has been breached, hard to say what is the next move as the data has been breached and leaked and as the OP said, they already make money out of it again and again. And after the breach, they can stealthy install some crypto miners malwares that will run 24x7 at the expense of the this poor companies.

[Lucius]

Obviously this group of hackers are sophisticated and highly intelligent individual, it's that they chooses to use on on the dark side of computers and be a criminals.
~snip~

If they are already so smart and intelligent, maybe they will avoid punishment and reach a settlement that would include some kind of house arrest while working for some three-letter agency. It is no secret that such things happen, and it is a real shame to let such people rot in prisons or to be employed by someone else when they are released. Besides, $6 million doesn't seem like a lot, at least not when we look at it globally.

[zasad@]

Obviously this group of hackers are sophisticated and highly intelligent individual, it's that they chooses to use on on the dark side of computers and be a criminals.
~snip~

If they are already so smart and intelligent, maybe they will avoid punishment and reach a settlement that would include some kind of house arrest while working for some three-letter agency. It is no secret that such things happen, and it is a real shame to let such people rot in prisons or to be employed by someone else when they are released. Besides, $6 million doesn't seem like a lot, at least not when we look at it globally.

Oh come on!
Did you really think they pulled off the greatest robbery of the century?
Such hacks are done even now through an affiliate program, and if the victim pays a ransom, then the money is divided between those who infected the victim with the virus and the author of the software

[Husires]

In short, they did everything they could to benefit financially to the maximum extent from the resources available to them, whether by selling them, blackmailing, trying to obtain money, or mining cryptocurrencies, but in the indictment there is no accusation because they used the devices to mine cryptocurrencies.
27 years is a long time, and when he gets out of prison, he will find that the year has changed completely. If he keeps some cryptocurrencies, it may be a new beginning for him.

[zasad@]

In short, they did everything they could to benefit financially to the maximum extent from the resources available to them, whether by selling them, blackmailing, trying to obtain money, or mining cryptocurrencies, but in the indictment there is no accusation because they used the devices to mine cryptocurrencies.
27 years is a long time, and when he gets out of prison, he will find that the year has changed completely. If he keeps some cryptocurrencies, it may be a new beginning for him.

Any reasonable person who engages in such crimes should be prepared for the consequences.
In Russia, a lot of hackers are now in the news. They do not violate the laws of their own country, but they do violate the laws of other countries. In Russia, they may receive a maximum of 10 years in prison, but they will spend 30% less time there for good behavior. But they are locked in Russia for the rest of their lives and will not be able to leave for other countries, because there they may be caught by Interpol.

[dansus021]

Wait wait he doing it all of it alone without any group, if so that is super duper crazy. Tho like husires said if he still has a couple of Wallet that the police or FBI don't know about it, after 27 years it could be a game changer for him maybe make him a billionaire if the crypto price keeps following the tradition of 4-year cycle.

are he going to serve in US jail?

[joniboini]

are he going to serve in US jail?

I think so. He got caught in another country and then got extradited to the US, likely because most of these crimes are targeted towards US companies. I don't think other countries would try too hard to jail him locally, especially if they don't get some benefits at all.

[Kemarit]

Wait wait he doing it all of it alone without any group, if so that is super duper crazy. Tho like husires said if he still has a couple of Wallet that the police or FBI don't know about it, after 27 years it could be a game changer for him maybe make him a billionaire if the crypto price keeps following the tradition of 4-year cycle.

No, if your read the indictment, he has co-conspirators, so he has help outside to accomplished this huge data theft and subsequent milking of money from business entities and individuals accounts. So this is huge group operating in Europe and targeting businesses around the world including the United States. But you know that if a US companies is selected by any criminals, be in online or offline, the long hands of the law of the United States will reach this underground and see that justice is being made.

are he going to serve in US jail?

For sure, again, if he read it, he was extradited him to the United States. And most likely he is already behind bars since January 2023 and will count until his sentencing by the United States court. As for the wallets, this is a criminal group, and maybe they have dispose of the money already and split it to their group. The United States government will have to look at every possibility if they can get some money from this criminals. But since their heist is like 2-3 years ago, I doubt that this criminals have hold the money. They could have been living a lavish lifestyle after their attacks.

[zasad@]

For sure, again, if he read it, he was extradited him to the United States. And most likely he is already behind bars since January 2023 and will count until his sentencing by the United States court. As for the wallets, this is a criminal group, and maybe they have dispose of the money already and split it to their group. The United States government will have to look at every possibility if they can get some money from this criminals. But since their heist is like 2-3 years ago, I doubt that this criminals have hold the money. They could have been living a lavish lifestyle after their attacks.

Such crimes in the United States take a very long time to investigate, when there are many companies involved and a lot of damage. So, while the investigation is ongoing, the criminal always has the opportunity to make a deal with the government and hand over his accomplices. Therefore, many criminals, after several months in prison, begin to turn in their accomplices so as not to receive a long sentence.

[Baofeng]

Obviously this group of hackers are sophisticated and highly intelligent individual, it's that they chooses to use on on the dark side of computers and be a criminals.
~snip~

If they are already so smart and intelligent, maybe they will avoid punishment and reach a settlement that would include some kind of house arrest while working for some three-letter agency. It is no secret that such things happen, and it is a real shame to let such people rot in prisons or to be employed by someone else when they are released. Besides, $6 million doesn't seem like a lot, at least not when we look at it globally.

That's why I said they uses their smart and intelligence to be on the bad side of it. And we all know that it's hard to perfect a crime as you will leave some fingerprints in it just like in the real world or just one slip and then they will be caught.

But yeah, maybe the best thing they can do or at least for this individuals is to reach some plea bargain, have a lesser sentence, can just out of the US jail for just a couple of years and maybe he will be back again. That $6 million though doesn't seems like a lot, but for this criminals, it's easy money, a money that they stolen from this unsuspecting victims of them.

[Kemarit]

For sure, again, if he read it, he was extradited him to the United States. And most likely he is already behind bars since January 2023 and will count until his sentencing by the United States court. As for the wallets, this is a criminal group, and maybe they have dispose of the money already and split it to their group. The United States government will have to look at every possibility if they can get some money from this criminals. But since their heist is like 2-3 years ago, I doubt that this criminals have hold the money. They could have been living a lavish lifestyle after their attacks.

Such crimes in the United States take a very long time to investigate, when there are many companies involved and a lot of damage. So, while the investigation is ongoing, the criminal always has the opportunity to make a deal with the government and hand over his accomplices. Therefore, many criminals, after several months in prison, begin to turn in their accomplices so as not to receive a long sentence.

Yes, that is part of the judicial process unfortunately, when someone is squeaking something just to get a lenient sentence, this criminals will do it to save their faces and avoid long jail term sentence.

And speaking of that, we have a good example in SBF, his supposedly former lover, Caroline Ellison is ratting against him, his former best friend as well, Gary Wang is turning and pointing all the blame to SBF and pleaded guilty for light sentencing.

So that's it for this criminals, unless they have a way to get away from all the witnessed testimonies against him. And in this case, Sebastien Raoult will give all the names of his conspirators to be able to get a light sentence.

[Fiatless]

Yes, that is part of the judicial process unfortunately, when someone is squeaking something just to get a lenient sentence, this criminals will do it to save their faces and avoid long jail term sentence.

Plea bargains have been a sound legal means to get more evidence that will facilitate the investigation. But in some cases, these criminals just to get that lenient sentence will go the extra mile of implicating innocent people. It could also be used by some politicians and law enforcement agencies to target opposition or enemies. There have been cases where further evidence or investigation proved that some persons implicated by these criminals were innocent. So there is always a need to back these confessions with concrete evidence.  

are he going to serve in US jail?

I think so. He got caught in another country and then got extradited to the US, likely because most of these crimes are targeted towards US companies. I don't think other countries would try too hard to jail him locally, especially if they don't get some benefits at all.

It is common to see criminals from other countries being extradited to the US if the crime was committed in the US. But I hardly see cases where American citizens are extradited to other countries to face the law. Maybe US citizens hardly commit crimes outside their territory.

[zasad@]

Obviously this group of hackers are sophisticated and highly intelligent individual, it's that they chooses to use on on the dark side of computers and be a criminals.
~snip~

If they are already so smart and intelligent, maybe they will avoid punishment and reach a settlement that would include some kind of house arrest while working for some three-letter agency. It is no secret that such things happen, and it is a real shame to let such people rot in prisons or to be employed by someone else when they are released. Besides, $6 million doesn't seem like a lot, at least not when we look at it globally.

That's why I said they uses their smart and intelligence to be on the bad side of it. And we all know that it's hard to perfect a crime as you will leave some fingerprints in it just like in the real world or just one slip and then they will be caught.

But yeah, maybe the best thing they can do or at least for this individuals is to reach some plea bargain, have a lesser sentence, can just out of the US jail for just a couple of years and maybe he will be back again. That $6 million though doesn't seems like a lot, but for this criminals, it's easy money, a money that they stolen from this unsuspecting victims of them.

I'll tell you what I heard from an American lawyer. If the criminal receives a sentence of 27 years in prison, but under the terms of the deal with the government, the criminal can spend 7 years in prison. But then the most interesting thing, and I think this is a very correct system. The government forgave the criminal a 20-year prison term, but if the criminal commits a new crime, he will be required to first serve these 20 years, and then he will have a new trial for his new crime.

[Baofeng]

Obviously this group of hackers are sophisticated and highly intelligent individual, it's that they chooses to use on on the dark side of computers and be a criminals.
~snip~

If they are already so smart and intelligent, maybe they will avoid punishment and reach a settlement that would include some kind of house arrest while working for some three-letter agency. It is no secret that such things happen, and it is a real shame to let such people rot in prisons or to be employed by someone else when they are released. Besides, $6 million doesn't seem like a lot, at least not when we look at it globally.

That's why I said they uses their smart and intelligence to be on the bad side of it. And we all know that it's hard to perfect a crime as you will leave some fingerprints in it just like in the real world or just one slip and then they will be caught.

But yeah, maybe the best thing they can do or at least for this individuals is to reach some plea bargain, have a lesser sentence, can just out of the US jail for just a couple of years and maybe he will be back again. That $6 million though doesn't seems like a lot, but for this criminals, it's easy money, a money that they stolen from this unsuspecting victims of them.

I'll tell you what I heard from an American lawyer. If the criminal receives a sentence of 27 years in prison, but under the terms of the deal with the government, the criminal can spend 7 years in prison. But then the most interesting thing, and I think this is a very correct system. The government forgave the criminal a 20-year prison term, but if the criminal commits a new crime, he will be required to first serve these 20 years, and then he will have a new trial for his new crime.

Yeah, perhaps it was due to the system trying to help the criminals to rehab himself and who knows, maybe he can change his ways and really be a good man and be a good member of the society. But if by chance, he just want to get out early and ratted out his friends and then commits the same crime and then caught, then the justice system will have to imposed it's will and then he will required to served that 20 years + then the new sentencing for his latest crime. So it's really up to the criminals himself, if he wanted to mend ways as he was given the chance already.

[zasad@]

Obviously this group of hackers are sophisticated and highly intelligent individual, it's that they chooses to use on on the dark side of computers and be a criminals.
~snip~

If they are already so smart and intelligent, maybe they will avoid punishment and reach a settlement that would include some kind of house arrest while working for some three-letter agency. It is no secret that such things happen, and it is a real shame to let such people rot in prisons or to be employed by someone else when they are released. Besides, $6 million doesn't seem like a lot, at least not when we look at it globally.

That's why I said they uses their smart and intelligence to be on the bad side of it. And we all know that it's hard to perfect a crime as you will leave some fingerprints in it just like in the real world or just one slip and then they will be caught.

But yeah, maybe the best thing they can do or at least for this individuals is to reach some plea bargain, have a lesser sentence, can just out of the US jail for just a couple of years and maybe he will be back again. That $6 million though doesn't seems like a lot, but for this criminals, it's easy money, a money that they stolen from this unsuspecting victims of them.

I'll tell you what I heard from an American lawyer. If the criminal receives a sentence of 27 years in prison, but under the terms of the deal with the government, the criminal can spend 7 years in prison. But then the most interesting thing, and I think this is a very correct system. The government forgave the criminal a 20-year prison term, but if the criminal commits a new crime, he will be required to first serve these 20 years, and then he will have a new trial for his new crime.

Yeah, perhaps it was due to the system trying to help the criminals to rehab himself and who knows, maybe he can change his ways and really be a good man and be a good member of the society. But if by chance, he just want to get out early and ratted out his friends and then commits the same crime and then caught, then the justice system will have to imposed it's will and then he will required to served that 20 years + then the new sentencing for his latest crime. So it's really up to the criminals himself, if he wanted to mend ways as he was given the chance already.

I don't think this system helps criminals rehabilitate themselves because there are so many people in prison in the US. The United States is the leader in prison inmates for 2022.
There are more than 2 million people in prisons in the US, about 1.7 million people in China. And China's population is much larger than that of the United States. But this system is great at solving crimes.