On May 16, 2023, the US Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control designated Mikhail Pavlovich Matveev, a Russian national who is allegedly responsible for ransomware cyberattacks against numerous US businesses and connected to a 2021 ransomware incident against the Washington DC Metropolitan Police Department. This action coincides with the unsealing of indictments against Matveev in US District Courts for the District of Columbia and the District of New Jersey and a $10 million award announced by the US Department of State, for information leading to Matveev’s arrest and/or conviction.
OFAC reports that Matveev, who has been vocal about his crybercrimes in media interviews, claimed responsibility for posting the information stolen from the police department online. Matveev has also stated that local authorities will tolerate his illegal activities as long as he remains loyal to Russia.
Matveev is designated pursuant to Executive Order 13694, as amended by EO 13757, for engaging in or supporting significant malicious cyber-enabled activities originating from outside of the US that are reasonably likely to result in a significant threat to national security or cause a substantial misappropriation of funds. As a result of this designation, all property and interests in property of this designee within the United States or within the possession or control of a US person are blocked, and US persons are generally prohibited from engaging in transactions involving the designated persons. In addition, entities owned 50 percent or more by one or more blocked persons are also blocked.
Department of Treasury Press Release | Department of State Announcement