Angelo Martino, a ransomware negotiator for DigitalMint, was sentenced to 70 months in prison for colluding with BlackCat cybercriminals to inflate ransom demands from his own clients. He provided confidential negotiation information to attackers in exchange for a cut of the payments, contributing to over $75 million in extorted funds from five victims. Martino pleaded guilty and assisted in the prosecution of two co-defendants, while facing asset forfeiture and future income penalties.
Background
The rise of specialized third-party ransomware negotiation firms has created a new industry segment aimed at reducing payouts for corporate victims, but this case highlights significant insider threat risks within these services.
- Source
- Ars Technica
- Published
- Jul 11, 2026 at 03:40 AM
- Score
- 7.0 / 10