UPDATE 2 - Russian National Burkov Signs Plea Deal With US Government, Faces 15 Years
Fahad Shabbir (@FahadShabbir) Published January 24, 2020 | 05:50 AM
ALEXANDRIA (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 24th January, 2020) Russian national Alexei Burkov pleaded guilty to two counts of cybercrime-related charges entailing a maximum penalty of 15 years in prison under a deal with US Government, a Sputnik correspondent reported from the court.
Burkov admitted access device fraud and conspiracy to commit access device fraud, identity theft, computer intrusion, wire fraud, and money laundering in return for the dismissal of another three initial charges.
"Under a plea agreement you plead guilty to counts 2 and 5 of the superseding indictment... In return of plea of guilty the government agrees not to prosecute you further," Judge T.S.Ellis III told the defendant on Thursday.
Maximum penalty on the two counts is 10 and 5 years in prison respectively.
"The worst thing that can happen to you on this case will be 15 years that can run either consecutively or concurrently," the judge explained.
He scheduled the sentencing for May 8, forfeiting a jury trial procedure.
"I am guilty, Sir, and would like to apologize at the next hearing," Burkov said after hearing both charges and explanation of the deal through an interpreter.
He is suspected of running two websites for hackers - a floor for trading in stolen payment card data and an "elite cybercriminals" forum. The prosecution believes that over 150,000 cardholders and thousands of financial companies may qualify as victims in the trial.
Burkov initially pleaded not guilty to all five counts with a cumulative maximum penalty of 80 years in prison.
His lawyer Gregory Stambaugh told reporters that he was pleased with the deal. Stambaugh hopes that the penalty will be below maximum and the judge will take into account four years that Burkov served in Israeli prison awaiting extradition to the US
Later in the day, Judge Ellis in a court document officially dismissed three of the counts against Burkov.
"The motion of the United States to dismiss counts one, three, and four of the superseding indictment in the above captioned case is hereby granted. It is therefore ORDERED that counts one, three, and four of the superseding indictment in this case are DISMISSED," Ellis said.
Related Topics
Recent Stories
Currency Rate In Pakistan - Dollar, Euro, Pound, Riyal Rates On 19 April 2024
Today Gold Rate in Pakistan 19 April 2024
Rock-solid Ruud racks up season-leading win in Barcelona
At UN, Iran says it will make Israel 'regret' reprisals
G7 hears calls for 'critical' Ukraine aid
EU seeks to leverage might to confront China, US challenge
5 Customs officials martyred as their vehicle ambushed by terrorists in D I Khan
Pak-New Zealand match called off due to rain
NHA restores traffic on roads affected by recent rains in Balochistan
China to fully support Pakistan's efforts against terrorism: Ambassador Jiang
U.S. envoy calls on Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar
Poland arrests man over suspected plan to kill Zelensky
More Stories From World
-
Defending champion Swiatek motors into Stuttgart quarter-finals
15 minutes ago -
Netflix beats expectations on profit and subscribers
55 minutes ago -
Ecuador hit by power cuts of up to 13 hours amid drought
55 minutes ago -
Israel launches strike against Iran: US media
55 minutes ago -
Kenya military chopper crash kills defence chief
55 minutes ago -
Oil surges, equities sink as Iran blasts fan MidEast escalation fears
1 hour ago
-
Israel launches strike against Iran: US media
1 hour ago -
At G7, Blinken seeks European support for pressure on China
8 hours ago -
Thousands of Bosnian Serbs rally against UN resolution on Srebrenica
8 hours ago -
Israel assault has turned Gaza into 'humanitarian hellscape': UN
8 hours ago -
Husband of ex-Scottish leader charged over alleged embezzlement: police
8 hours ago -
Ecuador hit by power cuts of up to 13 hours amid drought
9 hours ago