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The Russian national accused was Maksim Boiko, also known as Maxim Boyko and “gangass.” Federal prosecutors alleged that he helped QQAAZZ, a multinational money-laundering network, move funds stolen from online bank accounts. The allegations describe a system of shell companies, hundreds of bank accounts and cryptocurrency conversion—not a finding of guilt.
Who was the Russian man accused by the FBI?
Boiko was arrested in late March 2020 while visiting the United States, according to the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ). He was charged by criminal complaint. CyberScoop reported at the time that the complaint unsealed in Pittsburgh identified him as a 29-year-old Russian citizen; DOJ’s October 2020 announcement listed him as 30 and also used the names Maxim Boyko and “gangass.” DOJ announcement, October 15, 2020; CyberScoop report, March 30, 2020.
What is QQAAZZ?
QQAAZZ was the name DOJ used for an alleged international money-laundering organization that provided financial infrastructure to cybercriminal clients. The group allegedly received funds stolen from victims’ online bank accounts, moved them through accounts it controlled, and returned proceeds to the clients after taking a fee. DOJ said criminal groups associated with malware including Dridex, Trickbot and GozNym were among those that benefited from its alleged services. DOJ announcement, October 15, 2020.
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- Set up accounts. QQAAZZ members allegedly opened and maintained hundreds of corporate and personal bank accounts around the world to receive stolen funds.
- Obscure the trail. The network allegedly shifted money among QQAAZZ-controlled accounts and, in some cases, converted proceeds into cryptocurrency through “tumbling” services intended to make the source harder to trace.
- Return proceeds to clients. QQAAZZ allegedly sent the remaining funds back to cybercriminal clients after charging fees of up to 40–50 percent.
DOJ alleged that some receiving accounts belonged to shell companies created with legitimate and fraudulent Polish and Bulgarian identification documents. The companies allegedly conducted no legitimate business; their accounts served as part of the network’s receiving infrastructure. DOJ said QQAAZZ advertised on Russian-speaking criminal forums as a “global, complicit bank drops service.” DOJ announcement, October 15, 2020.
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What did the FBI affidavit reportedly allege about Boiko?
CyberScoop’s March 2020 account of an FBI affidavit said Boiko sometimes used the moniker “Gangass” and communicated with cybercriminal clients through secure, encrypted Jabber platforms, including exploit.im. The report attributed $387,964 in deposits to data from Boiko’s account and said he withdrew roughly 136 bitcoin, valued at $865,748 at the time of publication. Those figures are allegations described in a contemporaneous report—not amounts established by a conviction. CyberScoop, March 30, 2020.
How large was the alleged QQAAZZ operation?
DOJ said QQAAZZ had allegedly laundered or attempted to launder tens of millions of dollars in stolen funds since 2016 and maintained hundreds of corporate and personal accounts worldwide. The department’s October 2020 release said 20 people had been charged across related cases: 14 in an October 2020 indictment, five in a 2019 indictment and Boiko by criminal complaint. These are the figures and procedural status DOJ reported at that time, not a count of convictions. DOJ announcement, October 15, 2020.
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Why did the investigation span multiple countries?
DOJ described QQAAZZ as having members or layers in Latvia, Georgia, Bulgaria, Romania, Belgium and other countries. Investigators coordinated searches and prosecutions involving the United States, Portugal, Spain, the United Kingdom and several European jurisdictions. The alleged use of accounts and intermediaries across borders meant the investigation required cooperation among law-enforcement agencies in multiple countries. DOJ announcement, October 15, 2020.
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Was Maksim Boiko convicted?
The cited DOJ announcement describes Boiko as charged by criminal complaint; it does not establish a conviction. The department states that an indictment is an accusation and that defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. The allegations against Boiko and QQAAZZ should therefore be described as allegations, not proven facts. DOJ announcement, October 15, 2020.
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