| Case Summary: |
Beginning in November 2001 and until August 2007, Oleg Covelin committed numerous cyber crimes including unauthorized intrusions (hacks) into computer networks and taking control of a victim's financial or Internet account. He would then send fraudulent emails to induce the recipient to provide personal information. Once Covelin obtained this information, he used it to commit fraud, or sold the information to other individuals who, in turn, would use the information to commit fraud. Covelin laundered more than $100,000 of his criminal proceeds through a company located in New York, New York, called Western Express International, Inc. On multiple occasions, Covelin sent his criminal proceeds to Western Express in the form of digital currency, such as, Egold and Web money. On August 10, 2007, Covelin was indicted by a New York County Grand Jury for Enterprise Corruption, Identity Theft, Money Laundering, Conspiracy and Scheme to Defraud. |