Romanian Sentenced to 20 Years for NetWalker Ransomware

Daniel Hulea Orchestrated Attacks Targeting Businesses During the COVID-19 Pandemic Anviksha More (AnvikshaMore) • December 20, 2024

A U.S. federal court sentenced a Romanian man to 20 years in a U.S. prison for his role in Netwalker ransomware attacks including against healthcare and education sectors during the novel coronavirus pandemic, extorting millions of dollars from victims worldwide.

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Daniel Christian Hulea, 30, received 20 years after pleading guilty in July to conspiracy to commit computer fraud and conspiracy to commit wire fraud.

Romanian police arrested Hulea in his hometown of Cluj in July 2023, extraditing him to the United States in September the same year.

The Department of Justice and Bulgarian authorities disrupted the NetWalker operation in January 2021 (see: Another Takedown: Netwalker Ransomware Gang Disrupted).

In his plea agreement, Hulea copped to obtaining 1,595 bitcoin in ...