US Law Enforcement Seizes Millions in Bitcoin, Cash from Accused Cybercriminal
Authorities in Texas have seized more than $2.8 million worth of cryptocurrency from the digital wallets of a man they allege orchestrated a global ransomware scheme. Prosecutors say Ianis Aleksandrovich Antropenko, the accused, used the notorious Zeppelin ransomware to target individuals, companies, and organisations across multiple countries.
According to officials, the operation formed part of six federal warrants unsealed this week across courts in Texas, Virginia, and California. In addition to the crypto haul, investigators confiscated $70,000 in cash and a high-end luxury car allegedly tied to the scheme.
Antropenko faces multiple charges, including conspiracy to commit computer fraud and abuse, direct computer fraud and abuse, and conspiracy to commit money laundering. Prosecutors claim that his ransomware campaigns encrypted victims’ data and, in some cases, stole sensitive files—before demanding payments in exchange for restoring access or refraining from public disclosure.
The case underscores the growing intersection between cybercrime and cryptocurrency. The Justice Department said Antropenko laundered his illicit earnings using services like ChipMixer—a crypto mixing platform dismantled in a 2023 multinational crackdown—and through structured cash deposits to obscure the funds’ origins.
U.S. law enforcement agencies have ramped up efforts to disrupt ransomware operations. Their work has included seizing infrastructure linked to groups like Royal and dismantling vendors supplying malicious tools such as LummaC2. In 2024 alone, cybercrime in the United States resulted in $16.6 billion in losses, according to FBI data. Of that, $9.3 billion was tied to incidents involving digital assets—a 66% surge from the previous year. Nearly 150,000 complaints related to crypto crimes were filed in the same period.
The Justice Department’s Computer Crime and Intellectual Property Section (CCIPS) reports it has secured over 180 convictions in cybercrime cases and recovered more than $350 million for victims. Officials estimate their efforts have prevented an additional $200 million in ransom payments from being made.
