Alleged Russian hacker from Bradford granted bail
Alleged Russian hacker Mikhail Vasiliev has been out on bail for more than a month as the U.S. Department of Justice seeks his extradition.
According to U.S. justice officials, Vasiliev is a Russian Canadian who is part of a global ransomware group called LockBit, which has been under investigation for nearly three years.
The LockBit group Vasiliev is accused of being associated with made at least $100 million in ransom demands and took tens of millions of dollars in ransom payments from at least 1,000 cyber attacks on victims in the U.S. and around the world.
Vasiliev, meanwhile, was charged in November after police raided his Bradford home. According to the Department of Justice, investigators found him sitting in the garage at a table with a laptop, which he was unable to lock before being placed under arrest.
Months earlier, the U.S. Department of Justice says Vasiliev's home was searched and found to have a file containing a list of alleged prospective or previous cybercrime victims.
Screenshots were also found tying him to LockBit with usernames and passwords belonging to employees of an alleged Canadian LockBit victim.
Vasiliev had been behind bars in Toronto since his arrest, accused of being an active hacker who held sensitive computer data hostage in exchange for millions of dollars in ransom payments from victims.
Along with the cybercrime charges, Vasiliev was also charged with possession of illegal firearms and ammo.
Provincial police say investigators arrested Vasiliev at his home in Bradford in late October and again November 9th, 2022.
U.S. officials say Vasiliev faces a maximum of five years in prison if convicted.
Investigators also claim to have found a Bitcoin wallet address in Vasiliev's home, allegedly tracing it back to a ransom payment made six hours before his arrest.
With his extradition hearing looming, Vasiliev remains out on bail requesting disclosure of his weapons charges. He's due back in court next month.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Multiple bridges in Calgary shut down for police incident
Calgary police have shut down a number of bridges into and out of the downtown core as officers deal with a distraught individual.
Quebec judge orders bus driver to stand trial for 2023 daycare crash deaths
A judge has ordered a Quebec man to stand trial on charges of first-degree murder in the deaths of two children killed when a bus rammed into a Montreal-area daycare last year.
Sunshine list: These were the Ontario public sector's highest earners in 2023
Ontario released its annual sunshine list Thursday afternoon, noting that the largest year-over-year increases were in hospitals, municipalities, and post-secondary sectors.
Humboldt Broncos bus crash survivor qualifies Canada for Paralympics in rowing event
Former Humboldt Broncos goaltender and bus crash survivor Jacob Wassermann has qualified Canada for a rowing event for the 2024 Paralympic games in Paris.
Why some Christians are angry about Trump's 'God Bless the USA' Bible
Former U.S. President Donald Trump is officially selling a copy of the Bible themed to Lee Greenwood’s famous song, 'God Bless the USA.' But the concept of a Bible covered in the American flag has raised concern among religious circles.
George Washington family secrets revealed by DNA from unmarked 19th century graves
Genetic analysis has shed light on a long-standing mystery surrounding the fates of U.S. President George Washington's younger brother Samuel and his kin.
Krispy Kreme doughnuts coming to McDonald's in U.S., but not Canada
Canadians will be missing out on a sweet new partnership between McDonald's and Krispy Kreme, which will see doughnuts available at McDonald's locations across the U.S. by the end of 2026.
Calgary officer charged after allegedly assaulting handcuffed man
A Calgary police officer has been charged after allegedly assaulting a handcuffed man two years ago.
Trudeau's latest pre-budget pledge targets millennial moms, vowing $1B in loans for more child-care spaces
The federal government is launching a new loan program to help child-care providers in Canada expand their spaces, and will be extending further student loan forgiveness and training options for early childhood educators, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced Thursday.