2 days ago
An Israeli-Russian nationalist was arrested past week portion allegedly attempting to fly Israel nether a mendacious identity, and present faces extradition to the US successful transportation with a large crypto hack that caused astir $190 cardinal successful damages.
Alexander Gurevich was taken into custody connected May 1 astatine Ben-Gurion Airport conscionable earlier boarding a formation to Russia, section media reported.
Authorities said helium had legally changed his sanction and received a caller passport the time earlier his arrest. He is accused of stealing millions successful integer assets from a US-based crypto steadfast successful 2022 and attempting to extort a reward afterward.
Hacker’s demands
US national prosecutors allege that Gurevich exploited a vulnerability successful a blockchain level known arsenic Nomad connected Aug. 1, 2022, withdrawing astir $2.89 cardinal successful crypto. Others aboriginal exploited the flaw, starring to total losses of astir $190 million.
Following the incident, Gurevich allegedly contacted Nomad’s main exertion serviceman done encrypted messaging apps, admitted to the theft, and transferred backmost astir $162,000 successful stolen tokens.
He besides reportedly requested a $500,000 reward successful speech for details astir however the vulnerability was discovered. However, erstwhile the institution countered with a smaller offer, equivalent to 10% of the magnitude helium had withdrawn, Gurevich chopped disconnected connection and vanished.
The FBI’s San Francisco tract bureau aboriginal opened a transgression investigation, starring to an eight-count indictment filed successful August 2023 successful the Northern District of California.
Charges see ligament fraud, wealth laundering, and proscription of stolen property. If convicted, Gurevich could look up to 20 years successful situation for the astir superior offenses.
Escape effort thwarted
Gurevich reentered Israel connected April 19, during the Passover holiday, and was instantly ordered by authorities to look for an extradition hearing.
However, Gurevich ignored the summons and legally changed his sanction successful the Population Registry to “Alexander Block.” He subsequently applied for a caller passport and attempted to fly to Russia connected May 1 aft securing it.
He was arrested conscionable earlier departure and appeared successful tribunal the adjacent time successful handcuffs. Prosecutors from Israel’s State Attorney’s Office submitted a ceremonial petition to state him extraditable connected May 2.
Judge Einat Avman-Moller ordered Gurevich to stay successful custody up of a scheduled hearing. The Public Defender’s Office represented him during the hearing. Israeli authorities progressive successful the cognition see the National Fraud Unit and the Tel Aviv Fraud Division.
Because Gurevich was not residing successful Israel astatine the clip the alleged crimes were committed, helium is improbable to service immoderate condemnation successful Israel if convicted abroad.
The station Israeli authorities apprehension Nomad Bridge hacker, o.k. extradition to US appeared archetypal connected CryptoSlate.
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