Rostislav Panev, a 51 -year -old Russian double and Israeli who is accused of being a key developer of the notorious Ransomware Lockbit gang, has been extradited from Israel to the United States, the Department of Justice. announced Thursday.
Panev was arrested in Israel in December 2024, becoming the third person arrested for his role in Lockbit. Since then, Panev had been waiting for extradition in Israel.
The prosecutors claim that Panev was a developer who worked for the Ransomware Lockbit group since its inception in 2019 and until at least February 2024. Panev and other Lockbit developers designed the gang’s malware and maintained their infrastructure, and divided the criminal income with the affiliates of the gang, who were the ones who took the cyberboats and attacked victims, according to criminal profits.
“If you are a member of the Ransomware Lockbit conspiracy, the United States will find it and take it to justice,” said US prosecutor John Giordano.