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Pair Convicted In Worldwide Ransomware Attacks, Victimizing NJ Residents: Feds
Two foreign nationals pleaded guilty and were convicted on Thursday, July 18 to participating in the LockBit ransomware group and to deploying attacks on computer systems in New Jersey and worldwide, authorities said.
LockBit was described as "one of the most destructive ransomware groups in the world," by U.S. Justice Department officials.
Ruslan Magomedeovic Astamirov, 21, a Russian national from the Chechen Republic and Mikhail Vasiliev, 34, from Bradford, Ontario, a dual citizen in Canada and Russia, pleaded guilty to participating in the LockBit ransomware group that targeted critical …
Guatemalan Man Who Kidnapped NJ Girl, 14, To Sexually Assault Her In Georgia Indicted: Feds
A Guatemalan man was accused of kidnapping a Cape May County teen and trying to sexually assault her in Georgia, authorities said.
Sergio Gomez, 22, was detained on Thursday, July 18, New Jersey's U.S. Attorney Philip Sellinger said in a news release. He was federally indicted on Wednesday, July 17 for enticement of a minor to engage in sexual activity, transportation of a minor to engage in sexual activity, and kidnapping.
According to the indictment, Gomez, also known as “Abner Abigail Chub-Choc,” used the internet and a cellphone to entice the 14-year-old girl to have sex …
Quartet Who Kidnapped NJ Man, Demanded $680,000 Ransom Get Up To 18 Years Before Release
𝗨𝗣𝗗𝗔𝗧𝗘: Four men who kidnapped a Fort Lee man from his home and held him for a $680,000 ransom must serve from 12 to 18 years in federal prison before they'll be eligible for release.
The harshest plea-bargained sentence went to Albert Ferrelli, 52, of Queens, who must serve nearly 18 years of a 250-month prison sentence before he'll be eligible for release, U.S. Attorney Philip R. Sellinger said.
Next was fellow Queens resident Chiahao Lee, 32, who must serve nearly 13 years of a 180-month stretch, the U.S. attorney said.
They're followed by Gabriel Anthony, also of Queens, Sellinger…
Chilean Ring Used NJ Digs To Stash Loot From Home Burglaries In NY, MD, Elsewhere: Feds
Six Chilean nationals who burglarized homes in multiple states were recorded on video stashing a huge safe and other items stolen in the break-ins in a Jersey City apartment building, authorities said.
The crew took pearl necklaces, diamond earrings, a distinctive high school “state champions” ring, and other jewelry during the burglary of a Westchester County, NY, residence in late March, an FBI complaint says.
The same burglars struck again in Baltimore County, MD, in mid-April, taking luxury timepieces, distinctive cufflinks, and a safe that contained a collection of rare coins, the comp…
Member Of Burglary Crew That Targeted Asian Homeowners On 'Hit List' In NJ, NY, PA, Sentenced
𝗨𝗣𝗗𝗔𝗧𝗘: A confessed member of a burglary ring that targeted Asian-American small business owners in New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania and Delaware was sentenced to 33 months in federal prison.
Kevin Jackson, 57, of Rahway, NJ, must serve a little over two years before he'll be eligible for release because there's no parole in the federal prison system.
Jackson was part of a second-story crew that the FBI said worked from a hit list of dozens of homes in the four states based on “stereotype and opportunity" from Dec. 2, 2016, to March 20, 2019.
One of Jackson's associates told detectives t…
