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U.S. court sentences Karakurt ransomware negotiator to 8.5 years

Securityaffairs.Co •Pierluigi Paganini • May 5, 2026

Deniss Zolotarjovs was sentenced to 8.5 years in the U.S. after pleading guilty to money laundering and fraud tied to ransomware. Deniss Zolotarjovs, a Latvian national linked to the Karakurt ransomware gang, has been sentenced to 8.5 years in U.S. prison, marking a significant step in efforts to combat global ransomware operations. “A Latvian national […]

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Latvian Ransomware Negotiator Sentenced for $56 Million Cyber Extortion Scheme Deniss Zolotarjovs, a 35-year-old Latvian national, was sentenced to 8.5 years in federal prison for his role in a ransomware organization linked to over 54 cyberattacks on various companies from June 2021 to August 2023. The group, known as Karakurt, TommyLeaks, and SchoolBoys Ransomware, extorted victims by threatening to leak sensitive data, including Social Security numbers and health records. Zolotarjovs was primarily responsible for negotiating ransom payments, which totaled approximately $16 million, and he received a 10% cut of the ransoms paid. His tactics included leveraging stolen children's health information to pressure victims, leading to significant financial losses exceeding $56 million. The FBI noted that the group operated with a structured hierarchy and had connections to former Russian law enforcement. Zolotarjovs was arrested in Georgia in December 2023 and extradited to the U.S. in August 2024, where he pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit money laundering and wire fraud. 10 sources 68

U.S. court sentences Karakurt ransomware negotiator to 8.5 years

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