Four North Korean Nationals Indicted in $1 Million Cryptocurrency Heist Scheme

ATLANTA – Four individuals from North Korea—Kim Kwang Jin (김관진), Kang Tae Bok (강태복), Jong Pong Ju (정봉주), and Chang Nam Il (창남일)—face a five-count indictment for wire fraud and money laundering totaling over $900,000 in virtual currency. U.S. Attorney Theodore S. Hertzberg noted that the defendants utilized forged and stolen identities to hide their true nationality, posing as remote IT professionals while betraying the trust of their victims. This indictment underscores North Korea's threat to businesses that engage remote IT workers. Assistant Attorney General John A. Eisenberg emphasized that these schemes are meant to bypass sanctions and finance illicit programs, including military initiatives. Special Agent Paul Brown of the FBI Atlanta office affirmed their commitment to counteracting such threats. The indictment follows an investigation revealing that the DPRK sends numerous skilled IT workers to infiltrate U.S. companies. The defendants were indicted by a federal grand jury on June 24, 2025.