What was the North Korean cyber fraud scheme?

The North Korean cyber fraud scheme involved North Koreans posing as legitimate IT workers to obtain jobs at 136 U.S. companies, netting Kim Jong Un's regime $2.2 million.

How much money did the U.S. companies pay in salaries as part of the North Korean scheme?

The U.S. companies paid around $1.28 million in salaries, most of which was sent back to the North Korean IT workers overseas.

Who were the 5 people that pleaded guilty to helping North Korea in this scheme?

The 5 people who pleaded guilty were U.S. nationals Audricus Phagnasay, Jason Salazar, Alexander Paul Travis, Erick Ntekereze Prince, and Ukrainian national Oleksandr Didenko.

Home / Crime and Justice / 5 Plead Guilty to Helping North Korea Defraud U.S. Companies in $2.2M Scheme

5 Plead Guilty to Helping North Korea Defraud U.S. Companies in $2.2M Scheme

14 Nov, 2025

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Summary

5 people pleaded guilty to facilitating North Korean IT worker scam
Scheme netted Kim Jong Un's regime $2.2 million in revenue
U.S. companies paid $1.28 million in salaries, mostly sent to North Korea

5 Plead Guilty to Helping North Korea Defraud U.S. Companies in $2.2M Scheme

On November 14, 2025, the U.S. Department of Justice announced that five people have pleaded guilty to helping North Koreans defraud U.S. companies by posing as remote IT workers. The facilitators provided their own real or stolen identities to help the North Koreans obtain employment, and hosted company-issued laptops in their homes to make it appear the workers were based locally.