US sanctions Russians and North Koreans over IT-worker laundering
Original title: US sanctions Russians, North Koreans for laundering IT worker earnings
Treasury says two Russians each moved about $3.5 million in crypto tied to North Korean IT workers in Russia.
The Treasury Department sanctioned Russian and North Korean nationals and companies accused of laundering earnings from Pyongyang's overseas IT-worker scheme. Ilya Aleksandrovich Boykov and Vitold Viktorovich Obertas are accused of converting cryptocurrency for sanctioned North Korean firms, including Amnokgang and Alis. OFAC also designated North Korean managers, six IT workers, and First Financial and Technical Development Center, which Treasury says helped workers use artificial intelligence to seek US jobs. The department links the proceeds to ballistic-missile funding and notes recent Justice Department laptop-farm arrests and Australian sanctions.
Unconfirmed: The roles, amounts, and missile-funding use are Treasury allegations, not court findings.
- Obertas allegedly laundered at least $3.5 million since January 2025 for Amnokgang.
- Boykov allegedly converted about $3.5 million since 2024 and supported Alis.
- Kim Ki Hyok allegedly sent at least $500,000 to North Korea since 2024.
- Six designated IT workers allegedly earned at least $750,000 since 2025.
- Two weeks earlier, DOJ disrupted laptop farms in Texas and arrested two people.
From the original article
3 min read at therecord.mediaThe U. S. Treasury Department sanctioned Russian and North Korean nationals for allegedly laundering the earnings of illicit IT workers on behalf of Pyongyang.
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