NASHVILLE, Tenn.–The German government is requesting Grand Jury information as it relates to a group of hackers who held information ransom, collecting $4 million from victims in Tennessee.
The Federal Government has petitioned the Middle District of Tennessee to issue an Order allowing for the disclosure of documents obtained through grand jury subpoenas relating to the State Attorney’s Office investigation into Conti ransomware conspirators.
According to the petition, the group of hackers used Conti ransomware to hack into computer networks around the world and in Tennessee from 2020 through 2022. They then held information obtained via the hacks ransom, demanding cryptocurrency payments in order for users to regain access to their data and files.
The petition states “Ransom payments likely exceeded $200 million…In the Middle District of Tennessee, three victims paid Conti conspirators more than $4,000,000 in cryptocurrency ransoms. A fourth victim in this District declined to pay a $3 million ransom demand. As a result, Conti conspirators published the victim’s stolen data, including annual audit and 401(k) files.”
According to the Cybersecurity & Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), Conti ransomware attacks have grown over the years, with most, if not all of those behind the attacks residing outside of the country. The petition adds the hackers used U.S.-based online accounts.
The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) stated in 2022, ” Conti ransomware attacks have targeted the healthcare industry, major corporations, and government agencies, particularly those in North America.”
Now, the public prosecutor’s office in Frankfurt, Germany is seeking documents as they relate to an investigation of their own into the Conti ransomware group for alleged crimes.
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View the Petition in full below or HERE:
