Behind the screens: Ukrainian pleads guilty in Lincoln to multimillion-dollar cybercrimes

LINCOLN, Neb. (KLKN) – A man confessed his fault in federal court in Lincoln on Thursday for costly cybercrimes.

Vyacheslav Igorevich Penchukov of Donetsk, Ukraine, pleaded guilty to wire fraud and racketeering.

Penchukov stole millions of dollars in two separate malware schemes.

He had been on the FBI Cyber’s Most Wanted List for over a decade prior to his confession.

Penchukov was a leader of multiple malware scam groups that worked together to steal millions of dollars.

Starting in 2009, he used malicious software called Zeus to retrieve bank account information, passwords, personal ID numbers and similar information to hack into bank accounts.

Penchukov would then impersonate the victims of these crimes to get their money.

From November 2018 through February 2021, Penchukov led a conspiracy to infect computers with IcedID, which collected people’s personal information, including banking credentials.

IcedID also gave other software, including ransomware, access to those computers.

One of the victims was the University of Vermont Medical Center, which lost over $30 million.

Due to this, the medical center shut down for over two weeks, producing a risk of death or serious injury to patients.

U.S. Attorney for the District of Nebraska Susan T. Lehr said this case shows that cybercrime can affect anyone.

“It also demonstrates that no matter where the cybercriminals are, the department can and will bring them to justice,” she said.

Penchukov could face up to 20 years in prison for each count. He will be sentenced on May 9.