The SEC has uncovered an unprecedented international hacking and trading scheme involving a large scope of hacking, multiple traders, unlawfully traded securities, and generated profits. Seven individuals were arrested, some pleading guilty, with one sentenced to three years of supervised release and ordered to pay $1.3 million.
The SEC announced unprecedented international charges against Vitaly, Vlad, Alexander, and Leonid for a hacking and securities fraud scheme involving unlawful trading of a large number of securities generating profits, alongside charges of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and money laundering. The arrests of the co-conspirators took place in 2015 and some of them have pled guilty and cooperated with evidence production.
Two brothers, Leonid and Vitaly, scammed Wall Street for over $30 million by gaining access to press releases before they were published, allowing them to trade stocks and bonds based on the information before the public had a chance to react. They were eventually caught and sentenced to prison and fines.