A Russian hacker has pled guilty in a U.S court to aiding in the theft of $1.6 million, international media reported Monday.
Vadim Polyakov, 32, was the leader of a $1.6-million international ticket-scamming ring. He hacked into more than 1,000 accounts on U.S. ticket sales website StubHub.
Using the credit card details attached to the accounts, he and his accomplices purchased over 3,500 tickets to music and sporting events, prosecutors said.
Tickets were sold at a profit, with the illicit proceeds directed into multiple bank accounts to be laundered, prosecutors said.
A further nine people from different countries have been implicated in the case, two of whom are still on the lam. Polyakov was also charged with money laundering and is the first defendant to plead guilty. Two more Russian citizens are yet to stand trial.
In July 2014, Polyakov was arrested while in holiday in Spain at the request of U.S. law enforcement officials. He was extradited to the United States in 2015, despite objections from the Russian government.
Polyakov is set to be sentenced on July 6, the New York Post reported Monday. He now faces up to 12 years in prison.
A Message from The Moscow Times:
Dear readers,
We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent."
These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia.
We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help.
Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact.
By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us.
Remind me later.
