The son of a Russian lawmaker was found guilty Thursday of an international computer hacking and identity theft scheme that included stealing credit card numbers in 2010 from the now-shuttered Broadway Grill on Capitol Hill.
A federal jury in Seattle found Roman Seleznev guilty on 38 of 40 counts, including computer hacking, wire fraud, and identity theft. He faces up to 34 years in prison when he’s sentenced in December.
According to a 2011 indictment, Seleznev’s hack of the Broadway Grill point of sale system resulted in at least $1.7 million in losses to banks and credit card companies. The DOJ also alleged Seleznev operated a global “carder” system to aid hacking and the sale of credit and bank card data. Investigators said Seleznev was linked to data breaches at Mad Pizza locations in the area, and a breach at Grand Central Baking.
In total, prosecutors said Seleznev pilfered $170 million through his international hacking operation.
The Broadway Grill shuttered in 2013 after owners said they struggled to recover from the hack’s aftermath. Federal law enforcement authorities told CHS there was no illegal activity from within Broadway Grill “whatsoever.” UPDATE: Owner Matt Walsh declared bankruptcy later that year and eventually had more than $1 million in debt discharged after proceedings.
The verdict brings an end to a case dating back to at least 2008, when prosecutors say Seleznev started hacking U.S. computer systems. Seleznev was captured in 2014 and eventually returned to Seattle by way of Guam where he pleaded not guilty to the charges.
Several months after the initial charges were filed in the case, a federal grand jury in Seattle returned a “second superseding” indictment, charging Seleznev with an additional 11 counts related to hacking, stealing two million credit card numbers, and selling the numbers through “carding” sites.
Seleznev used servers around the world to conduct his operations and sold credit card numbers through the website “2pac.cc.”
Seleznev was indicted in Seattle in 2011 but wasn’t taken into custody until 2014. DOJ representatives wouldn’t say how the suspect was ultimately captured or how he ended up in Guam, his first stop in U.S. territory. The arrest of Seleznev, the son of a member of Russia’s Duma, set off international protest as his home nation called his seizure a kidnapping part of a string of disputes with the U.S. over cybercrime.
“DOJ representatives wouldn’t say how the suspect was ultimately captured or how he ended up in Guam, his first stop in U.S. territory.”
Not that it matters, but in one of the links in the story;
“U.S. Secret Service agents captured Seleznev as he and his girlfriend arrived at the Maldives airport on their way back to Russia. The agents flew him by private jet to Guam and then to Seattle, where he has been in custody.”
wow – amazing how long this has taken. I remember trying to think back how recently I’d been to the Broadway Grill, and considering using cash for every transaction from then on.
Sad that the Broadway Grill never recovered from this. I hope the former owners and employees can take cold comfort from this.
It took a long time…..but, finally, justice served!