US Treasury Sanctions 10 Individuals and 1 Entity in Crackdown on North Korean IT Worker Fraud and Crypto Laundering Network

October 28 — The U.S. Treasury Department's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) announced sanctions on 10 individuals and 1 entity. These targets are involved in North Korean IT workers defrauding U.S. companies, with the proceeds used for North Korea's weapons of mass destruction and ballistic missile programs. Sanctioned Russian national Ilya Boykov has exchanged approximately $3.5 million in cryptocurrency for North Korea's Alis company since 2024. Russian national Vitold Obertas has completed nearly $2 million in cryptocurrency exchanges for North Korean officials since January 2025. Also sanctioned are the North Korea-controlled, Russia-based entity FFTDC and its 6 IT workers, who have generated over $750,000 in revenue since 2025. Australia and the EU also took similar sanctions actions this month.