MOSCOW, April 27 (RAPSI) – A court in New York has sentenced an Estonian citizen, Vladimir Tsastsin, to 7 years and 3 months in prison for conducting cyber fraud, Reuters reported on Wednesday.
According to Reuters, Tsastsin has also been ordered to pay a $2.5 million fine.
In July 2015 Tsastsin pleaded guilty to wire fraud and computer intrusion conspiracies, saying that he deeply regretted his actions, Reuters reported. Damage caused by his scheme is estimated to be as high as $14 million.
According to U.S. prosecutors, Tsastsin began distribution of DNS Changer malware in 2007 with the assistance of his co-conspirators, Reuters reported. The malware was used to divert money to the criminal group through machinations with fraudulent advertisement clicks.
Tsastsin was arrested in Estonia in 2011 where he was separately convicted on related money-laundering charges, Reuters reported. In October 2014 he was extradited to the United States.