Marat Tambiyev, a former leading Russian investigator, has been sentenced to 16 years in prison for accepting a significant bitcoin bribe. Tambiyev allegedly took 1,032 bitcoins, valued at approximately $65 million, from hackers he was meant to investigate, leading to his conviction.
The hackers were members of Infraud, a notorious cybercrime group that operated as an online marketplace for illegal goods and services.
Primarily, it facilitated the sale of stolen data, hacking tools, and other illicit cyber activities. Founded in 2010, Infraud gained notoriety for enabling the trade of stolen credit card details, personal information, and malware.
The group operated through an online forum that served as a marketplace for users to buy and sell illegal items.
Transactions were often conducted using cryptocurrencies to conceal identities. This platform attracted cybercriminals globally, facilitating diverse fraudulent activities and fostering a thriving illicit trade.
In 2018, a significant law enforcement operation saw agencies from multiple countries join forces to dismantle the criminal organization known as Infraud.
This collaboration resulted in numerous arrests and the seizure of various assets. However, instead of confiscating stolen bitcoin from this criminal group, an individual named Tambiyev allegedly struck a deal with them.
Rather than seizing stolen bitcoin from a criminal group, Tambiyev allegedly made a deal with them. Under this agreement, he received half of their illicit earnings. This arrangement occurred on April 7, 2022.
By 2023, Russian authorities uncovered bitcoin on Tambiyev’s Mac computer, raising suspicions.
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The reason for their concern was the glaring discrepancy between his official income, which was about 11.7 million rubles or approximately $144,000, and the significantly larger amount of bitcoin he possessed.
Tambiyev has firmly denied these allegations, asserting that he was framed and had no involvement with the illegal funds. He intends to challenge the decision by filing an appeal in court.
Meanwhile, Kristina Lyakhovenko, another individual associated with the case, has already received a nine-year prison sentence for her role in the activities.
