Three Russian Nationals Indicted for Operating Cryptocurrency Mixers Used in Global Crime Scheme
A federal grand jury has indicted Roman Vitalyevich Ostapenko, 55, Alexander Evgenievich Oleynik, 44, and Anton Vyachlavovich Tarasov, 32, all of Russia, for their involvement in operating cryptocurrency mixing services Blender.io and Sinbad.io.
Blender.io and Sinbad.io were used by cybercriminals worldwide to launder funds stolen from ransomware attacks, virtual currency thefts, and other crimes, according to the indictment. The mixers allegedly enabled users to obscure the origin of cryptocurrency transactions, facilitating the concealment of illicit funds.
Operations of Blender.io and Sinbad.io
Blender.io operated between 2018 and 2022, promoting its “No Logs Policy” to assure users that transaction records were not stored, thereby preserving anonymity. Following Blender.io’s closure, Sinbad.io began operations in early 2023, offering similar services to obfuscate Bitcoin transactions. Both platforms attracted criminals seeking to launder proceeds from illegal activities, including ransomware and wire fraud schemes.
Sinbad.io was dismantled on November 27, 2023, as part of a coordinated law enforcement action. The U.S. Department of Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) sanctioned both mixers, citing their use by cybercriminals and state-sponsored hacking groups, including the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK).
Charges Against the Defendants
- Roman Vitalyevich Ostapenko faces one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering and two counts of operating an unlicensed money transmitting business.
- Alexander Evgenievich Oleynik and Anton Vyachlavovich Tarasov each face one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering and one count of operating an unlicensed money transmitting business.
Ostapenko and Oleynik were arrested on December 1, 2024, while Tarasov remains at large.
Law Enforcement and International Collaboration
The Federal Bureau of Investigation led the investigation, with significant contributions from the Netherlands’ Public Prosecution Service, the Fiscal Information and Investigative Service, the Australian Federal Police, Finland’s National Bureau of Investigation, and the Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Samir Kaushal and Trial Attorney Ethan Cantor are prosecuting the case, with support from the National Cryptocurrency Enforcement Team and Assistant U.S. Attorney Maxwell Coll of the Central District of California.
Members of the public are reminded that the indictment contains charges, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
