Florida ransomware negotiator convicted for helping ransomware gang extort US companies

The ransomware negotiator convicted for helping ransomware gang extort US companies follows the sentencing of Florida resident Angelo Martino, who received more than five years in prison for conspiring with hackers to deploy ransomware while working as a negotiator for a U.S. cybersecurity firm. The U.S. Department of Justice said the government seized over $10 million in cryptocurrency and assets, which Martino allegedly bought using proceeds from the hacks, including a food truck and a luxury fishing boat. Prosecutors said Martino was the third person jailed after Kevin Martin and Ryan Goldberg. The trio allegedly helped deploy BlackCat ransomware (also known as ALPHV) against U.S. companies throughout 2023, including an attack that extorted about $1.2 million from a victim, then split the proceeds after laundering. The case highlights how ransomware-as-a-service operates through affiliates and the role of negotiation in extortion ecosystems.