A brazen international cybercrime ring is accused of infecting computers with a malicious computer program called Zeus Trojan to hack into bank accounts in the U.S., stealing millions of dollars. They recruited and used Russian college students on short-term work and study visas as mules to move the money out of the country.
In 2010 the money mule ring started to unravel. Law enforcement agencies joined forces across the U.S., U.K., the Netherlands and Ukraine to arrest at least 80 people worldwide for playing a role in this major scam. Among those charged were 37 men and women who were part of the New York money mule organization.
Today, eight alleged members of the mule organization remain at large. Most are believed to have made it back home to Russia or Moldova, where they face virtually no risk of prosecution. Artem Semenov is the only fugitive believed to still be in the U.S.
The eight who have yet to face justice are featured here. If you have any information concerning these fugitives, please contact your local FBI office or the nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate.
By Daniel Freed
Posted 1 Nov. 2013
Watch "The Money Mules" on "American Greed" for the full story on how the cybercrime ring unraveled. All new Thursday, Nov. 7, 2013, at 10 p.m. ET/PT on CNBC.
Artem Semenov
Aliases: Nicholas Congleton, Valentin Kulakov, Alexey Michinnik, Viktor Rajkov, Arvind Shah, Peter Stojanovich, Tokin Waaran, Fred Teschemacher, David Warren, Aleksandr Zorin
Nationality: Russian
Age when charged: 23
Estimated current age: 26
Criminal charges: Conspiracy to commit bank fraud; conspiracy to possess false identification documents; false use of passport
According to the FBI, an arrest warrant was issued for Semenov in 2010 after he was charged with conspiracy to commit bank fraud, conspiracy to possess false identification documents and false use of passport.
He's an avid poker player, speaks limited English and may be sticking close to a Russian community. According to the criminal complaint against him, in or about August 2010 Semenov flew to Las Vegas with two female companions, now-convicted money mules Almira Rakhmatulina and Julia Shpirko. Court records indicate the women were later arrested in Los Angeles. The FBI believes Semenov remains at large in the U.S.
Artem Tsygankov
Aliases: "Artur"
Nationality: Russian
Age when charged: 22
Estimated current age: 25
Criminal charges: Conspiracy to commit bank fraud; conspiracy to possess false identification documents
The FBI alleges Artem Tsygankov to be the "boss" of the money mule organization. According to the criminal complaint against him, in or about July 2010, Tsygankov left the U.S. on a direct flight to Russia.
Catalina Cortac
Aliases: Ksenia Lykova, Elena Maleeva, Catalina Adam
Nationality: Moldovan
Age when charged: 21
Estimated current age: 24
Criminal charges: Conspiracy to commit bank fraud; conspiracy to possess false identification documents
Charging documents state Cortac most recently traveled to the U.S. in or about May 2010, and departed the U.S. in or about September 2010. Research by "American Greed" shows on Facebook there is a woman who appears to be Catalina Cortac both in appearance and in the profile URL. She now goes by Catalina Adam and is married to convicted money mule Lilian Adam. The couple appears to live in Chisinau, Moldova. It also appears Cortac is friends with a woman who appears to be fellow fugitive Marina Oprea.
Ion Volosciuc
Aliases: Oleg Andreev, Maxim Dmitriev
Nationality: Moldovan
Age when charged: 19
Estimated current age: 22
Criminal charges: Conspiracy to commit bank fraud; conspiracy to possess false identification documents
According to the criminal complaint against him, Volosciuc most recently traveled to the U.S. in or about May 2010, and departed the U.S. in or about August 2010.
Kristina Izvekova
Aliases: Inga Shvedova, Tamara Zhdanova, Katerina Papilov
Nationality: Russian
Age when charged: 22
Estimated current age: 25
Criminal charges: False use of passport
Immediately after being charged in October 2010, sexy bikini pictures surfaced from a social profile appearing to belong to Izvekova and captivated the New York press, who dubbed her a "curvy, blonde beauty" and "sexy coed." Izvekova entered the U.S. in or about June 2009 and left the U.S. in or about August 2010.
Marina Oprea
Aliases: Iulia Karchanova, Marina Savenkova
Nationality: Moldovan
Age when charged: 20
Estimated current age: 23
Criminal charges: Conspiracy to commit bank fraud; conspiracy to possess false identification documents
Charging documents state Oprea most recently traveled to the U.S. in or about May 2010, and departed the U.S. in or about September 2010. Research by "American Greed" found a woman on Facebook who appears to be Marina Oprea currently living in Chisinau, Moldova. She is Facebook friends with a woman who appears to be fellow fugitive Catalina Cortac.
Maxim Panferov
Aliases: Arturas Nastajus, Vytautas Norkus, Maxim D. Demis, Andris Prokes
Nationality: Russian
Age when charged: 23
Estimated current age: 26
Criminal charges: Conspiracy to commit bank fraud; conspiracy to possess false identification documents; false use of passport
According to the charges against him, Panferov entered the U.S. in or about May 2007 and left the U.S. in or about July 2010.
Sofya Dikova
Aliases: Sofya Dikov, Vesna Jelkovic
Nationality: Russia
Age when charged: 20
Estimated current age: 23
Criminal charges: Conspiracy to commit bank fraud; conspiracy to possess false identification documents
Federal investigators alleged Dikova provided false passports to alleged money mule organization boss Artem Tsygankov. Charging documents state Dikova entered the U.S. in or about July 2009 and left the U.S. in or about March 2010.
"American Greed: The Fugitives"
A spinoff series from the producers of "American Greed" that focuses on active cases of alleged white-collar criminals, accused of orchestrating elaborate scams to dupe investors and to ultimately evade capture. Each episode features interviews with law enforcement, prosecutors and victims, all sharing the goal of bringing these fugitives to justice.
Watch "The Money Mules" on "American Greed" for the full story on how the cybercrime ring unraveled. All new Thursday, Nov. 7, 2013, at 10 p.m. ET/PT on CNBC.