Two NJ Men Sentenced in North Korea IT Fraud Scheme

Two New Jersey residents were sentenced this week for their roles in a multiyear scheme that enabled North Korean information technology workers to impersonate Americans and secure remote jobs at more than 100 U.S. companies, including several Fortune 500 firms and a defense contractor.

Kejia Wang, 42, received a nine-year prison term after pleading guilty in September 2025 to conspiracy to commit wire fraud, money laundering, and identity theft. Zhenxing Wang, 39, was sentenced to 92 months in prison following his guilty plea in January 2026 to conspiracy to commit wire fraud and money laundering. Both men, who are U.S. citizens, also face three years of supervised release and must forfeit $600,000 in proceeds from the operation. The scheme, which operated from 2021 until October 2024, generated more than $5 million in revenue for North Korea's government, according to the U.S. Department of Justice. Affected companies incurred at least $3 million in losses from legal fees, network remediation, and other damages.

Court records show the operation relied on stolen identities from over 80 U.S. individuals to apply for and obtain remote IT positions. Kejia Wang served as the...