Brooklyn Man Pleads Guilty In Connection With International Cybercrime Scheme

2017-02-03 · Press release

Mentions 1960 Verified 1960

Summary: Earlier today, Vyacheslav Khaimov pled guilty at the federal courthouse in Brooklyn, New York, to the operation of an unlicensed money transmitting business in connection with his role in an international cybercrime operation.

Earlier today, Vyacheslav Khaimov pled guilty at the federal courthouse in Brooklyn, New York, to the operation of an unlicensed money transmitting business in connection with his role in an international cybercrime operation.

The plea was announced by Robert L. Capers, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, and William F. Sweeney, Jr., Assistant Director-in-Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation, New York Field Office (FBI).

According to court filings, the scheme involved sophisticated malware, which co-conspirators used to obtain unlawful access to victims’ bank accounts – most of which were in U.S. banks. The illegally obtained funds were then transferred via wire to the bank accounts of a network of individuals within the United States who, in turn, further transmitted the money, or portions of the money, either to additional U.S.-based intermediaries or directly overseas. As part of this scheme, Brooklyn-based Khaimov received over $230,000 in funds fraudulently withdrawn from the bank accounts of at least eight bank account takeover victims via wire transfers and cashier’s checks from a network of intermediary “mules.” To date, the FBI has identified over $1.2 million in losses attributable to the malware scheme and more than $6 million in attempted losses.

“The proliferation of malicious software is a scourge on our society. Cybercriminal networks like the network that the defendant allegedly was a part of are responsible for pillaging innocent victims’ bank accounts and wreaking havoc on our financial institutions through the use of malware. They will be pursued and prosecuted to the full extent of the law,” stated United States Attorney Capers.

“Modern-day bank robbers no longer need a gunman and a getaway driver. Today, they just need a malware operator and money mules to carry out their crime from anywhere in the world. Brooklyn-based Vyacheslav Khaimov, pleaded guilty for his role as a money mule in a multi-million dollar malware scheme where he moved funds from victim accounts into other accounts. This is an ongoing investigation conducted by the FBI’s Cyber Task Force. We will continue to investigate all co-conspirators and bring them to justice,” stated FBI Assistant Director-in-Charge Sweeney.

The government’s case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Una A. Dean, Tiana Demas, and Margaret Lee.

The Defendant:

VYACHESLAV KHAIMOV

Age: 55

Brooklyn, New York

E.D.N.Y. Docket No. 17-CR-25 (ERK)

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press_release_url: https://www.justice.gov/usao-edny/pr/brooklyn-man-pleads-guilty-connection-international-cybercrime-scheme
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participant_id	name	role	title	organization	location	age	status
2502	Vyacheslav Khaimov	defendant			Brooklyn, New York	55	pleaded guilty
2503	Robert L. Capers	prosecutor	United States Attorney	U.S. Attorney's Office	New York
2504	William F. Sweeney, Jr.	investigator	Assistant Director-in-Charge	FBI	New York
2505	Una A. Dean	prosecutor	Assistant United States Attorney	U.S. Attorney's Office	New York
2506	Tiana Demas	prosecutor	Assistant United States Attorney	U.S. Attorney's Office	New York
2507	Margaret Lee	prosecutor	Assistant United States Attorney	U.S. Attorney's Office	New York

agency_id	agency_name	abbreviation	role	office_location	agents_mentioned	contribution
1587	Federal Bureau of Investigation	FBI	investigation	New York Field Office	William F. Sweeney, Jr.	Led the investigation into the malware scheme, identified over $1.2 million in losses, and conducted the ongoing investigation through the Cyber Task Force
1588	United States Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of New York		prosecution	Eastern District of New York	Una A. Dean, Tiana Demas, Margaret Lee	Prosecuted the case and announced the guilty plea

charge_id	charge_description	statute	severity	max_penalty	fine_amount	defendant	status	participant_id	cl_docket_id	count_num	is_1960	verified_1960	source	updated_at
1299	Operating an Unlicensed Money Transmitting Business					Vyacheslav Khaimov	pleaded guilty				1		enrichment	2026-09-16T19:46:00+00:00
3383	unlicensed money transmitting business in connection with his role in an inter										1		press	2026-09-16T19:46:00+00:00

fin_id	action_type	amount	currency	description	asset_type	defendant	status
1277	seizure	$230,000	USD	funds fraudulently withdrawn from the bank accounts of at least eight bank account takeover victims via wire transfers and cashier’s checks	cash	Vyacheslav Khaimov	completed
1278	loss	$1.2 million	USD	losses attributable to the malware scheme	cash		completed
1279	attempted loss	$6 million	USD	attempted losses	cash		pending

victim_id	victim_type	description	number_affected	loss_amount	geographic_scope	vulnerability_factors	impact_description
383	individual	bank account takeover victims	8	230000	U.S.		Funds fraudulently withdrawn from their bank accounts via wire transfers and cashier’s checks

quote_id	quote_text	speaker_name	speaker_title	speaker_organization	quote_type	context	significance
2639	The proliferation of malicious software is a scourge on our society. Cybercriminal networks like the network that the defendant allegedly was a part of are responsible for pillaging innocent victims’ bank accounts and wreaking havoc on our financial institutions through the use of malware. They will be pursued and prosecuted to the full extent of the law	Robert L. Capers	United States Attorney	Eastern District of New York	statement	Announcing the guilty plea of Vyacheslav Khaimov	Highlights the severity of the cybercrime and the government's commitment to prosecuting such crimes
2640	Modern-day bank robbers no longer need a gunman and a getaway driver. Today, they just need a malware operator and money mules to carry out their crime from anywhere in the world. Brooklyn-based Vyacheslav Khaimov, pleaded guilty for his role as a money mule in a multi-million dollar malware scheme where he moved funds from victim accounts into other accounts. This is an ongoing investigation conducted by the FBI’s Cyber Task Force. We will continue to investigate all co-conspirators and bring them to justice	William F. Sweeney	Assistant Director-in-Charge	Federal Bureau of Investigation, New York Field Office	statement	Announcing the guilty plea of Vyacheslav Khaimov	Describes the modern methods of cybercrime and the ongoing efforts to bring all involved to justice

theme_id	theme_name	description	significance	related_statutes	geographic_scope	stakeholders
1801	Unlicensed Money Transmitting Business	Khaimov operated an unlicensed money transmitting business to facilitate transfers of illegally obtained funds through wire transfers and cashier’s checks using intermediary 'mules'.	Central to the guilty plea, forming the basis of federal charges under money transmission laws.	18 U.S.C. § 1960	International	Law enforcement, Financial institutions, Victims
1802	Cybercrime/Malware	Co-conspirators used sophisticated malware to unlawfully access victims' U.S. bank accounts, enabling theft of over $1.2 million in confirmed losses.	Core method of attack highlighting evolving cyber threats to financial systems.	18 U.S.C. § 1030	International	Victims, Law enforcement, Financial institutions
1803	Money Laundering	Funds were laundered through a network of U.S.-based intermediaries and transferred overseas to obscure illicit origins.	Critical to concealing criminal proceeds and enabling further operations.	18 U.S.C. § 1956, 18 U.S.C. § 1957	International	Money mules, Law enforcement, Financial institutions
1804	International Cooperation	The scheme involved cross-border transfers of stolen funds and required multinational investigative efforts.	Demonstrates transnational nature of modern cybercrime requiring coordinated responses.		International	International law enforcement agencies, Victims
1805	Financial Institution Compromise	Malware attacks targeted U.S. bank accounts, compromising financial institution security systems.	Highlights vulnerabilities in banking infrastructure to cyber intrusions.		National	Financial institutions, Regulators, Victims
1806	Money Mules	A network of U.S.-based intermediaries acted as money mules to facilitate fund transfers for the cybercriminal network.	Essential operational component enabling movement of illicit proceeds.	18 U.S.C. § 1956(h)	International	Money mules, Law enforcement

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