Two Americans admitted to using ransomware to attack multiple victims in the United States, with the amount involved approximately $1.2 million

According to the U.S. Department of Justice, two American men have pleaded guilty to attacking multiple targets in the U.S. using ALPHV BlackCat ransomware.

Ryan Goldberg (40) from Georgia and Kevin Martin (36) from Texas admitted to deploying ALPHV BlackCat ransomware between April and December 2023. Both are professionals in the cybersecurity industry, and they, along with another accomplice, paid 20% of the ransom as a cut to the ALPHV BlackCat administrator to gain access to the ransomware. After successfully extorting approximately $1.2 million in Bitcoin from one victim, the three split 80% of the ransom and laundered it through various means.

The two defendants are scheduled to be sentenced on March 12, 2026, and could face up to 20 years in prison.