NYC Hacker Sentenced to 5.8 Years for Credit Card Theft and Money Laundering
Vitalii Antonenko, a 32-year-old New York resident, has been sentenced for his involvement in hacking activities, trafficking stolen credit card data, and money laundering. Judge William G. Young sentenced him to 5.8 years in prison, accounting for time already served, followed by three years of supervised release. Additionally, he has been ordered to pay restitution amounting to $1.8 million.
In September 2024, Antonenko pleaded guilty to charges of conspiracy to unlawfully access computer networks, trafficking stolen data, and laundering illicit proceeds. He was arrested in March 2019 at John F. Kennedy International Airport upon returning from Ukraine. A search revealed computers and digital storage devices containing hundreds of thousands of stolen payment card records.
Investigations revealed that Antonenko and his accomplices targeted vulnerable networks containing payment data such as card numbers, expiration dates, and CVV codes. Using SQL injection techniques, they infiltrated systems, extracted sensitive information, and sold it on underground online marketplaces.
The proceeds, including those obtained through Bitcoin, were laundered via wire transfers and cash transactions. Victims included a hospitality company and a nonprofit research institution in eastern Massachusetts.
Antonenko was indicted by a federal grand jury in May 2020. The case was handled by a specialized division combating financial and cyber fraud under the direction of the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
U.S. Attorney Joshua S. Levy and Secret Service Special Agent Andrew Murphy commended the successful resolution of the case, emphasizing the importance of collaborative efforts in addressing cyber threats.
