Two U.S. Nationals Sentenced for Running Laptop Farm for DPRK Remote Workers

Cybersecuritynews •Abinaya • April 16, 2026

Two American nationals have been sentenced to federal prison for operating a sophisticated “laptop farm” scheme. The operation successfully infiltrated over 100 U.S. companies, generating more than $5 million in illicit revenue to fund the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) and its weapons programs. Kejia Wang, 42, received a 108-month prison sentence, while his […]

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U.S. Nationals Sentenced for $5M North Korean IT Fraud Scheme Two U.S. nationals, Kejia Wang and Zhenxing Wang, were sentenced for facilitating a fraudulent scheme that allowed North Korean IT workers to pose as U.S. residents and secure jobs at over 100 companies, generating more than $5 million for the DPRK. The defendants operated 'laptop farms' in the U.S., using stolen identities of at least 80 Americans to bypass security measures and access sensitive corporate data. Kejia Wang received a 108-month sentence, while Zhenxing Wang was sentenced to 92 months. Both men created shell companies to mask the illicit operations and launder money. The U.S. government has recovered $400,000 of the forfeited funds, with ongoing investigations into additional co-conspirators. This case highlights the risks posed by foreign actors exploiting remote work systems and identity theft. The scheme has raised significant national security concerns due to potential access to sensitive information. 16 sources 73

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Democratic People’s Republic Of Korea