Two Russian students from an international group of hackers suspected of stealing at least $70 million from bank accounts worldwide have been sentenced to short prison terms and fines after they pleaded guilty to money laundering in the United States, RIA-Novosti reported Friday.
The suspects had faced up to 20 years in prison and a fine of up to $500,000 on a variety of charges, including money laundering, bank fraud and identity theft.
A total of 22 Russians are suspected of belonging to the criminal group.
A Manhattan court sentenced Alexander Sorokin, 23, to six months in prison and a $100 fine on Tuesday, said Alexander Otchaynov, the Russian deputy consul in New York, RIA-Novosti reported.
But Sorokin, who had been released on bail, did not show up for the hearing and may face a more severe punishment if he has no reasonable excuse for his absence or has gone into hiding, Otchaynov said.
The other student, Anton Yuferitsyn, 26, was handed a 10-month prison term and a fine of $38,413 on June 25.
The court will deliver a verdict for the only other student who has pleaded guilty, Alexander Fyodorov, 24, on Jan. 5.
On Oct. 14, the court will open preliminary hearings into a fourth suspect, Kristina Svechinskaya.
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