August 18, 2022:
Defendant "his co-conspirators laundered the proceeds of ransomware attacks on individuals and organizations throughout the United States and abroad." "First identified in August 2018, Ryuk is a type of ransomware software that, when executed on a computer or network, encrypts files and attempts to delete any system backups." DOJ Link
"Of note, Ryuk can target storage drives contained within or physically connected to a computer, including those accessible remotely via a network connection. Ryuk has been used to target thousands of victims worldwide across a variety of sectors."
"In October 2020, law enforcement officials specifically identified Ryuk as an imminent and increasing cybercrime threat to hospitals and healthcare providers in the United States." Defendant made his initial appearance in federal court today in Portland. A five-day jury trial is scheduled to begin on Oct. 4.