LockBit Ransomware Developer Extradited to the U.S.
The U.S. Justice Department announced on Thursday that a developer linked to the LockBit ransomware operation has been extradited from Israel to the United States, where he faces multiple charges related to cybercrime. Rostislav Panev, a 51-year-old dual Russian-Israeli national, was arrested by Israeli authorities in August 2024. He allegedly admitted to playing a key role in developing the LockBit ransomware.
According to authorities, Panev worked on LockBit malware between June 2022 and February 2024, earning approximately $10,000 in cryptocurrency per month. In total, he reportedly received over $230,000 for his contributions.
Investigators claim that Panev was responsible for coding and development tasks, including creating features to disable security software, facilitate malware spread, and automatically print ransom notes on victims' printers.
Panev also allegedly communicated privately on a cybercrime forum with LockBitSupp, the group’s main administrator, believed to be Russian national Dmitry Yuryevich Khoroshev.
The LockBit ransomware gang suffered a major setback last year when law enforcement agencies successfully hacked its infrastructure. The group has been linked to attacks on over 2,500 organizations across 120 countries, extorting at least $500 million in ransom payments.
The U.S. has charged seven individuals tied to LockBit, with some already in custody. However, Khoroshev and others remain at large, with authorities offering rewards of up to $10 million for information leading to their arrest.
In a related case, a LockBit affiliate in Canada was sentenced to nearly four years in prison last year, while other hackers involved in the operation have been charged for their roles in separate cybercrime activities.
