The third member of the LockBit Ransomware gang has been arrested

US prosecutors in New Jersey on Friday publicly announced charges against Rostislav Banev, 51, a dual Russian-Israeli citizen accused of being a lead developer in the LockBit ransomware ring. Banev is Currently in Israeli prisons He faces extradition to the United States.

LockBit is one of the most widespread ransomware gangs, accused of launching crippling data-stealing cyberattacks on thousands of companies around the world, including the United States, and is believed to be responsible for at least $500 million in ransom payments alone. Authorities identified and seized LockBit’s infrastructure in a takedown in February, however LockBit bounced briefly As its leader, He was named by the British and American authorities after Dmitry Khoroshevis still at large.

That’s three for three, according to prosecutors, after the LockBit affiliates were caught Mikhail Vasiliev in Canada in 2022then Ruslan Astamerov in the United States in 2023And now Banev, of a total of seven LockBit members who have been indicted so far.