Security News > 2022 > October > Netwalker ransomware affiliate sentenced to 20 years in prison
Former Netwalker ransomware affiliate Sebastien Vachon-Desjardins has been sentenced to 20 years in prison and demanded to forfeit $21.5 million for his attacks on a Tampa company and other entities.
Vachon-Desjardins, a 34 Canadian man extradited from Quebec, was sentenced today in a Florida court after pleading guilty to 'Conspiracy to commit Computer Fraud', 'Conspiracy to Commit Wire Fraud', 'Intentional Damage to Protected Computer,' and 'Transmitting a Demand in Relation to Damaging a Protected Computer.
Vachon-Desjardins is also required to serve three years of supervised release after he gets out of prison.
On January 27th, 2021, when the US DOJ charged Desjardins, an international law enforcement operation seized Netwalker websites, including their Tor payment and data leak sites.
Vachon-Desjardins operated as an affiliate for the ransomware operation, where it is believed he conducted attacks on companies worldwide, including US companies and at least 17 Canadian entities.
He was later sentenced to 6 years and eight months in prison after pleading guilty before an Ontario judge.