- Three men allegedly deployed ALPHV ransomware against American companies, demanding ransoms in cryptocurrencies.
- Victims included medical, pharmaceutical, engineering and drone companies; one paid $1.2 million
- The charges carry up to 20 years; Goldberg confessed and was caught fleeing
Three cybersecurity professionals have been accused of working as affiliates of the feared ALPHV (BlackCat) ransomware gang, deploying encryptors against several US organizations.
A US federal indictment filed in the Southern District of Florida accuses two defendants – Ryan Clifford Goldberg of Georgia and Kevin Tyler Martin of Texas, as well as a third co-conspirator, of hacking into the company’s networks, stealing data, encrypting it with ALPHV ransomware and demanding ransoms in cryptocurrency.
Although the indictment also does not describe them as cybersecurity professionals, the Chicago Sun-Times claims that Martin and the unnamed co-conspirator worked at DigitalMint as ransomware threat negotiators, while Goldberg was a former Sygnia incident response manager.
20 years in prison
Their victims included at least five companies: a Florida medical device company (which demanded a $10 million ransom and ultimately paid about $1.2 million), a Maryland pharmaceutical company, a California medical office and engineering company, and a Virginia-based drone manufacturer.
Because all five companies were engaged in interstate commerce, the matter falls under federal jurisdiction, it was explained.
The payments were allegedly laundered through multiple cryptocurrency wallets to hide their origin.
The three men risk heavy prison sentences. They are charged with “conspiracy to interfere with interstate commerce by extortion,” “interference with electronic commerce by extortion” and “intentional damage to a protected computer.” The first two carry prison sentences of up to 20 years, while the third carries up to 10 years.
Martin has pleaded not guilty, while Goldberg has been in federal custody since September 2023.
Quoting an FBI affidavit, CyberInsider reported that Goldberg admitted to participating in the attacks during an interview with the FBI in June 2025 and even said he was recruited by the co-conspirator. He allegedly tried to flee the country with his wife after the interview, before being apprehended.
Via BeepComputer
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