The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) announced Thursday that a former Canadian government employee was extradited the previous day from Canada to the U.S.
The DOJ detailed that from April through December 2020, Sebastien Vachon-Desjardins “conspired to and did intentionally damage a protected computer and transmit a ransom demand in connection with doing so.” The Justice Department launched a coordinated international law enforcement action to disrupt ransomware group Netwalker in January last year.
Canadian law enforcement officers arrested Vachon-Desjardins in Quebec on Jan. 27 last year at the request of U.S. authorities, the DOJ said Thursday, adding that they proceeded to execute a search warrant at his home.
"During the search, officers discovered and seized 719 bitcoin, valued at approximately $28,151,582 as of today’s date, and $790,000 in Canadian currency."
