Russian National Charged in NJ in $1M Trading Account Hack Scheme

A Russian national living in New York has been charged for his alleged role in a ring that stole approximately $1 million by hacking into retail brokerage accounts and executing sham trades, U.S. Attorney for the District of New Jersey Paul J. Fishman announced today.

Petr Murmylyuk, aka “Dmitry Tokar,” 31, of Brooklyn, New York, has been charged by complaint with one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, unauthorized access to computers, and securities fraud. The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) is also filing a parallel civil action. Murmylyuk is currently in state custody facing charges arising out of a separate investigation conducted by the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office and will appear in Newark federal court to face the conspiracy charge on a date to be determined.

“Hackers continue to find new and advanced ways to steal from the financial sector,” said First Assistant U.S. Attorney J. Gilmore Childers. “Through the illusion of legitimacy, these alleged hackers controlled both sides of securities transactions to game the market and drain their victims’ accounts. Those who use their computer skills for fraud underestimate the combined resolve of law enforcement and the financial services industry to detect and stop these crimes.”