Yevgeniy Aleksandrovich Nikulin, 30, of Moscow was arrested inward Prague on Oct 5, 2016, past times Interpol agents working inward collaboration amongst the FBI, but he was late extradited to the USA from the Czechia on Th for his start appearance inward federal court.
Nikulin's arrest started an extradition battle betwixt the USA together with Russia, where he faces significantly lesser criminal charges of stealing $3,450 via Webmoney inward 2009. But the Czechia ruled inward favor of the United States.
In the U.S., Nikulin is facing:
- 3 counts of figurer intrusion
- 2 counts of intentional transmission of information, code, or ascendance causing impairment to a protected computer
- 2 counts of aggravated identity theft
- 1 count of trafficking inward unauthorized access devices
- 1 count of conspiracy
According to the maximum penalties for each count, Nikulin faces a maximum of 32 years inward prison theater together with a massive fine of to a greater extent than than $1 Million.
The U.S. Justice Department accused Nikulin of allegedly hacking into computers belonging to 3 American social media firms, including LinkedIn, the online cloud storage platform Dropbox together with now-defunct social-networking trouble solid Formspring.
Nikulin reportedly gained access to LinkedIn's network betwixt March 3 together with March 4, 2012, Dropbox betwixt May fourteen together with July 25, 2012, together with Formspring betwixt June thirteen together with June 29, 2012.
The hacker allegedly stole accounts of to a greater extent than than 117 Million LinkedIn users together with to a greater extent than than 68 Million Dropbox users. Authorities likewise say that later stealing information from the 3 companies, Nikulin worked amongst unnamed co-conspirators to sell the stolen data.
Besides hacking into the 3 social media firms, the Justice Department likewise defendant Nikulin of allegedly gaining access to credentials belonging to LinkedIn together with Formspring employees, which helped him comport out the figurer hacks.
Nikulin appeared inward Federal District Court inward San Francisco on Fri together with pleaded non guilty to the charges against him, the New York times reported.
"This is deeply troubling demeanor i time over again emanating from Russia," said Attorney General Jeff Sessions inward a statement. "We volition non tolerate criminal cyber-attacks together with volition larn inward a priority to investigate together with prosecute these crimes, regardless of the solid soil where they originate."
Judge Jacqueline Scott Corley scheduled Nikulin's side past times side courtroom appearance for condition on Apr 2, 2018, together with scheduled a detention hearing for Apr 4, 2018.
