Accused Russian hacker to face charges in U.S.

A Russian national has been extradited to the U.S. and indicted in New Jersey in what federal officials on Tuesday called the “the largest international hacking and data breach scheme ever prosecuted in the United States.”

Vladimir Drinkman, 34, with dual addresses in Syktyvkar and Moscow, was charged for his alleged role in a worldwide conspiracy that stole more 160 million credit card numbers, and caused hundreds of millions of dollars in losses.

He was originally arrested by Dutch authorities in the Netherlands in June 2012, and secretly extradited to the U.S. to face the criminal charges in this country.

In a brief appearance Tuesday in federal court in Newark, Drinkman pleaded not guilty to all 11 counts in the indictment and was ordered by Magistrate Judge James B. Clark to be detained without bail.

“Cybercriminals conceal themselves in one country and steal information located in another country, impacting victims around the world,” said Assistant Atty. Gen. Leslie R. Caldwell. “Hackers often take advantage of international borders and differences in legal systems, hoping to evade extradition to face justice. This case and today’s extradition demonstrate that through international cooperation, and through great teamwork … we are able to bring cyberthieves to justice in the United States.”