- Three men allegedly deployed ALPHV ransomware against US companies and demanded cryptocurrency ransoms
- Victims included medical, pharmaceutical, engineering and drone companies; one paid 1.2 million dollars
- The charges last up to 20 years; Goldberg confessed and was caught trying to flee
Three cybersecurity professionals have been accused of working as affiliates of the feared ALPHV (BlackCat) ransomware gang, deploying encryption against multiple US organizations.
A US federal indictment filed in the Southern District of Florida claims that two defendants, Ryan Clifford Goldberg of Georgia and Kevin Tyler Martin of Texas, along with a third accomplice, hacked into the company’s networks, stole data, encrypted it with ALPHV ransomware, and demanded cryptocurrency ransoms.
While the indictment does not describe either man as cybersecurity professionals, the Chicago Sun-Times claims that both Martin and the unnamed co-conspirator worked at DigitalMint as ransomware threat negotiators, while Goldberg was a former Sygnia incident response manager.
20 years in prison
His victims included at least five companies: a Florida medical device company (it demanded a $10 million ransom and ended up paying about $1.2 million), a Maryland pharmaceutical company, a California doctor’s office and engineering company, and a Virginia-based drone manufacturer.
Since the five companies were engaged in interstate commerce, the case falls under federal jurisdiction, it was explained.
The payments were allegedly laundered through multiple cryptocurrency wallets to hide their origins.
All three face a serious prison sentence. They are charged with “conspiracy to interfere with interstate commerce by racketeering,” “interference with electronic commerce by racketeering,” and “intentional damage to a protected computer.” The first two carry prison sentences of up to 20 years, while the third 10 years.
Martin has pleaded not guilty, while Goldberg has been in federal custody since September 2023.
Citing an FBI affidavit, CyberInsider reported that Goldberg admitted to participating in the attacks during an FBI interview in June 2025 and even said he was recruited by the co-conspirator. He allegedly attempted to flee the country with his wife after the interview, when he was detained.
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