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A Russian national has been indicted for his involvement in ransomware attacks across Texas and other parts of the US.

What’s the deal: According to the Justice Department, Aleksandr Viktorovich Ryzhenkov was indicted for allegedly conducting a series of ransomware attacks across Texas and other parts of the United States over a seven-year period. Ryzhenkov and his co-conspirators are accused of using “BitPaymer” ransomware to gain unauthorized access to corporate and personal data, encrypting it, and then demanding ransoms for decryption keys. He allegedly exploited vulnerabilities in hardware, conducted phishing campaigns, and deployed malware to infiltrate systems.

Ryzhenkov, who is believed to be in Russia, also threatened to release sensitive information on the dark web if payments were not made and is described as a senior figure in the Russia-based cybercriminal group Evil Corp. In addition to companies in Texas, his victims included a New York bank and Swiss citizens.

DOJ Statement: In a statement, Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco said, “The Justice Department is using all the tools at its disposal to attack the ransomware threat from every angle. Today’s charges against Ryzhenkov detail how he and his conspirators stole the sensitive data of innocent Americans and then demanded ransom. With law enforcement partners here and around the world, we will continue to put victims first and show these criminals that, in the end, they will be the ones paying for their crimes.”

FBI Statement: In a statement, FBI Deputy Director Paul Abbate said, “The FBI, together with partners, continues to leverage all resources to impose cost on criminals engaging in ransomware attacks. Today’s indictment delivers a clear message to those who engage in cyber-criminal activity – you will face severe consequences for your illicit activities and will be held accountable under the law.”