DOJ says ransomware gang tapped into Russian government databases

11:20 AM PDT · May 6, 2026

A U.S. court has sentenced Latvian hacker Deniss Zolotarjovs to more than eight years in prison following his conviction for carrying out ransomware attacks.

The Justice Department accused the hacker of working for a notorious Russian ransomware gang called Karakurt, which was led by former leaders of the Akira and Conti ransomware gangs, who were sanctioned by the U.S. Treasury for their alleged links to Russian intelligence.

Prosecutors said members of Karakurt targeted U.S. government entities with attacks that disrupted 911 emergency dispatch systems, and also stole children’s health information. Zolotarjovs was responsible for “escalating pressure” on victims who resisted the gang’s ransom demands, the DOJ said.

While Zolotarjovs’ conviction is notable in itself, U.S. prosecutors said in their press releasethat the ransomware gang relied on access to Russian government databases and law enforcement connections to intimidate its victims, further underscoring the...

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