Evergreen Reporter

A federal judge in Washington, D.C., has unsealed indictments against two Chinese nationals accused of participating in long-term computer hacking conspiracies. The defendants, Yin Kecheng and Zhou Shuai, allegedly targeted numerous U.S.-based companies, institutions, and municipalities from 2011 to the present day for financial gain. Both individuals remain fugitives with arrest warrants issued against them.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia revealed that Yin and Zhou have connections to the government of the People’s Republic of China (PRC). They are alleged to have stolen data from various U.S. entities, including technology firms, think tanks, defense contractors, government municipalities, and universities. This information was reportedly brokered for sale.

This unsealing is part of a broader effort by the Department of Justice (DOJ) and its partners to address computer hacking activities linked to the Chinese government. The PRC's Ministry of Public Security (MPS) and Ministry of State Security (MSS) are said to have directed or financed such operations targeting high-value U.S. assets.

The DOJ announced judicially authorized seizures related to this case, including internet domains linked to Yin and a Virtual Private Server account associated with Zhou used in network intrusion activities. Additionally, the Treasury Department imposed sanctions on Zhou and his company Shanghai Heiying Information Technology Company Limited.

U.S. Attorney Edward R. Martin Jr. stated: "These indictments lay out the strong evidence showing their criminal wrongdoing." FBI Acting Assistant Director Roman Rozhavsky added: "Today's indictment is the first step toward bringing these perpetrators to justice."

Special Agent Josh Stanley from NCIS Cyber Operations noted that these actions pose a significant threat to national security due to their impact on Cleared Defense Contractors supporting the U.S. military.

Senior Bureau Official F. Cartwright Weiland highlighted collaborative efforts between multiple agencies in announcing these actions against cybercriminals.

The allegations indicate a nearly decade-long campaign involving sophisticated hacking tools used by Yin and Zhou's group known as “APT27” among other names like “Bronze Union” or “Iron Tiger.” The indictments cover offenses such as wire fraud, identity theft violations under CFAA regulations along with money laundering activities conducted through cryptocurrency channels within international boundaries via US financial systems networks infiltrated using malware installations maintaining persistent unauthorized access points exploiting vulnerabilities found across targeted sites globally causing millions worth damages reported back authorities overseeing investigations underway supported Microsoft Volexity Palo Alto Networks Unit 42 Mandiant who assisted prosecutorial team led Assistant US Attorneys Jack Korba Tejpal Chawla National Security Division’s Cyber Section Trial Attorney Tanner Kroeger among others involved case development proceedings ongoing

An indictment remains an allegation until proven guilty beyond reasonable doubt court law according judicial standards presumption innocence maintained throughout process