Pro Basketball Player Known For His Moves On The Court Travels Into Trouble Over Alleged Ransomware Scheme

Russian professional basketball player Daniil Kasatkin, known for his moves on the court, has found himself in an entirely different kind of court facing accusations of being a ransomware negotiator. The 26-year-old, who once graced the NCAA courts at Penn State and most recently played for Moscow's MBA-MAI, was arrested at Paris's Charles de Gaulle Airport on June 21 at the behest of the United States.

According to the arrest warrant, Kasatkin is wanted in the U.S. on charges of "conspiracy to commit computer fraud" and "computer fraud conspiracy." The U.S. alleges he acted as a negotiator for a ransomware gang responsible for attacking nearly 900 companies, including two federal agencies, between 2020 and 2022. While the specific gang wasn't named by U.S. authorities, the description strongly points towards the notorious Conti ransomware group.

However ...