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Florida man pleads guilty in ransomware conspiracy targeting U.S. companies: DOJ

Tampabay28 • April 21, 2026

FLORIDA — A Florida man who worked as a ransomware negotiator admitted to conspiring with cybercriminals to carry out attacks against U.S. companies and extort payments.

Federal prosecutors said 41-year-old Angleo Martino, of Land O’Lakes, shared confidential information his clients’ negotiating strategies with operators of the BlackCat ransomware variant while working for a U.S.-based cyber incident response firm. The information included insurance limits and internal positions, which helped attackers secure higher ransom payments.

Authorities have seized $10 million in assets from Martino, including cryptocurrency, vehicles, a food truck, and a luxury fishing boat. He faces up to 20 years in prison when sentenced on July 9. Goldberg and Martin also pleaded guilty to the same charge and await sentencing.

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Florida Ransomware Negotiator Pleads Guilty to Conspiracy with BlackCat Gang Angelo Martino, a 41-year-old former ransomware negotiator from Florida, pleaded guilty to conspiracy charges related to assisting the BlackCat/ALPHV ransomware gang in extorting U.S. companies. Martino, along with co-conspirators Ryan Goldberg and Kevin Martin, exploited his position at DigitalMint, a cybersecurity firm, to provide confidential information about victims' negotiation strategies and insurance limits. This information enabled the gang to maximize ransom payments, which totaled over $16 million across five attacks. Martino admitted to participating in deploying BlackCat ransomware between April and November 2023. The Justice Department has seized approximately $10 million in assets from Martino, including luxury items and cryptocurrency. He faces up to 20 years in prison, with sentencing scheduled for July 9, 2026. The case highlights the growing threat posed by insider threats within the cybersecurity industry. 28 sources 68

Florida man pleads guilty in ransomware conspiracy targeting U.S. companies: DOJ

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