Three cybersecurity workers tied to BlackCat indicted for extortion

Federal prosecutors in Miami have unsealed an indictment charging three U.S. cybersecurity professionals with operating as affiliates of the ALPHV BlackCat ransomware network and extorting at least five American companies, according to court filings. The indictment alleges the attacks began in May 2023 and targeted businesses including a Tampa medical device manufacturer, a Maryland pharmaceutical company, a California doctors office, a California engineering firm, and a Virginia drone maker.

Prosecutors named 33 year old Ryan Clifford Goldberg of Watkinsville, Georgia, and 28 year old Kevin Tyler Martin of Roanoke, Texas, along with an unnamed coconspirator. The defendants are charged with conspiracy to interfere with interstate commerce by extortion, interference with commerce by extortion, and intentional damage to protected computers. The extortion counts carry statutory penalties of up to 20 years in prison and the computer damage count carries up to 10 years, and prosecutors have sought forfeiture of assets derived from the alleged scheme, including cryptocurrency wallets.

According to the indictment and an accompanying FBI affidavit, the defendants used an ALPHV affiliate...