Home / Crime and Justice / Finland Extradites Hacker Linked to $100M Ransom Group
Finland Extradites Hacker Linked to $100M Ransom Group
2 Jul
Summary
- A 19-year-old accused hacker was extradited from Finland to the U.S.
- The hacker allegedly belongs to the Scattered Spider criminal group.
- The group is linked to over $100 million in ransom payments.
A 19-year-old man, identified as Peter Stokes and holding dual U.S. and Estonian citizenship, was extradited from Finland to the United States. He now faces federal conspiracy, computer intrusion, and fraud charges in Illinois, as part of an ongoing investigation into the criminal hacking group "Scattered Spider." Stokes was apprehended in Finland in April following an Interpol Red Notice and arrived in the U.S. last week. He appeared in federal court in Chicago and was ordered detained.
The "Scattered Spider" group is alleged to have conducted over 100 network intrusions, demanding more than $100 million in ransom and causing millions in additional damages. Prosecutors have previously charged other alleged members of the loosely organized group, which is suspected of breaching numerous U.S. companies to steal data and cryptocurrency. This group gained significant notoriety in September 2023 for its attacks on casino operators Caesars Entertainment and MGM Resorts, demanding substantial ransoms.
