The third member of the LockBit ransomware group has been arrested

US prosecutors in New Jersey on Friday publicly announced charges against Rostislav Panev, 51, a dual citizen of Russia and Israel who is accused of being the founder of the LockBit ransomware gang. Panev is they are currently in Israeli hands and is expected to be shipped to the United States.

LockBit is one of a growing number of ransomware gangs, accused of crippling cyberattacks on thousands of companies around the world, including the US, and thought to be responsible for at least $500 million in ransom payments alone. Officials discovered and seized LockBit’s equipment during a raid in February, but LockBit made a brief comeback as his leader, he was named by UK and US officials as Dmitry Khoroshevthey remain numerous.

This is three for three, on the opponents, holding LockBit’s supporters Mikhail Vasiliev in Canada in 2022that’s it Ruslan Astamirov in the US in 2023and now Panev, of the seven members of LockBit who have been sued so far.