May 17, 2024 at 02:36PM
Three individuals have been arrested for allegedly facilitating North Korea’s attempts to fund its weapons program using US money. They are accused of using various methods, such as securing jobs and running a laptop farm, to extract funds from the US economy. The scheme involved defrauding major US companies and is believed to have generated $6.8 million for overseas workers.
The meeting notes provide details of the arrests made by the Department of Justice relating to individuals accused of facilitating North Korea’s efforts to fund its weapons program using US money. Three individuals have been apprehended and are suspected of employing various methods to extract funds from the US economy. These methods include securing jobs under false pretenses and running a laptop farm to support overseas/NORK workers.
Minh Phuong Vong of Bowie, Maryland allegedly secured jobs and outsourced the work to North Koreans, while Christina Marie Chapman of Litchfield Park, Arizona is accused of running a laptop farm and helping North Korean workers defraud major US companies. The indictment against Chapman mentions defrauding over 300 US companies and stealing data from prominent businesses.
Oleksandr Didenko of Kyiv, Ukraine, has also been arrested for allegedly running a website, UpWorkSell, which facilitated overseas IT workers to register on freelance job sites using identities other than their own to secure work at US companies. Didenko is accused of establishing a laptop farm.
It’s noteworthy that the arrested individuals are suspected of collaborating with entities in China and Russia, as well as using fraudulent means to evade US sanctions and victimize American businesses. The FBI and other law enforcement agencies are committed to addressing these high-tech campaigns and sophisticated cyber activities designed to support North Korea’s economic objectives.
The US is offering a $5 million reward for information on three overseas workers associated with Chapman’s alleged crimes and is actively pursuing the extradition of Didenko. Additionally, efforts have been made to seize websites and assets linked to these individuals and their operations.
Overall, the meeting notes convey a significant focus on combating North Korea’s illicit activities and its attempts to evade sanctions and exploit US businesses. The FBI’s Counterintelligence Division and its partners are actively involved in addressing these threats and enforcing legal actions against individuals and organizations involved in such schemes.