Botnet operator behind $14 million in ransomware extortion payments gets 24 months behind bars

A Russian national, Ilya Angelov, pleaded guilty and was sentenced to 24 months for co-managing the Russia-based Mario Kart botnet (also tracked as TA-551/Monster Libra/GOLD CABIN) that distributed malware via spam attachments, infected up to 3,000 machines per day, and sold access to other criminal groups—enabling ransomware attacks on more than 70 U.S. companies that resulted in over $14 million in extortion payments.