Ransomware negotiator pleads guilty to helping ransomware gang

Angelo Martino, a former ransomware negotiator at cybersecurity firm DigitalMint, has pleaded guilty to secretly aiding the ALPHV/BlackCat ransomware gang while ostensibly working for victims. He fed confidential information — including insurance policy limits and negotiation strategies — back to the criminals to maximize ransom payouts, taking a cut in return. Martino also helped two other rogue negotiators deploy ALPHV/BlackCat ransomware against U.S. victims for six months in 2023, collectively earning over $1.2 million from a single victim. He faces up to 20 years in prison, and $10 million in assets have already been seized. He is the third ransomware negotiator in the past year charged with the same scheme.