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1Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches2Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors3Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteOn October 15, 2020, the U.S. Department of Justice announced a new federal indictment charging 14 people it alleged were members of QQAAZZ, a transnational network that laundered money stolen through computer fraud. Together with earlier related charges, DOJ said 20 defendants had been charged by that date. The charges are accusations, not proof of guilt.
Who are QQAAZZ?
QQAAZZ was described by prosecutors as a money-laundering service for cybercriminals. The October 2020 indictment alleged its members worked with cybercriminal groups around the world to receive and move money stolen from computer-fraud victims in the United States and elsewhere. DOJ said the alleged laundering or attempted laundering involved tens of millions of dollars since 2016. These figures describe the allegations in this case, not a broader estimate of cybercrime.
DOJ said the organization advertised its services on Russian-speaking cybercrime forums. It named the groups behind the Dridex, Trickbot and GozNym malware operations as examples of cybercriminals alleged to have used QQAAZZ’s services.
What charges did the U.S. announce?
The announcement concerned distinct charging actions. DOJ’s figures below refer to defendants charged as of October 15, 2020, not to later case outcomes.
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| Charging action | Defendants charged | Timing |
|---|---|---|
| Indictment in the Western District of Pennsylvania | 14 | Unsealed October 15, 2020 |
| Related indictment | 5 | Unsealed October 2019 |
| Criminal complaint against a Russian national | 1 | Filed March 2020 |
| Total across the related actions, as reported by DOJ | 20 | As of October 15, 2020 |
The new indictment was not the same document as the earlier indictment or the separate complaint. DOJ’s release, dated October 15, 2020 and updated February 6, 2025, does not provide a comprehensive account of the later status or final disposition of every defendant. Read the DOJ announcement.
How did QQAAZZ allegedly launder stolen money?
The earlier indictment describes an alleged service that connected cybercriminals seeking a way to receive stolen funds with bank accounts controlled by QQAAZZ members. DOJ’s 2020 summary also alleged that the network maintained hundreds of personal and corporate bank accounts internationally, used shell companies to open corporate accounts and sometimes converted funds to cryptocurrency through tumbling services intended to obscure their source.
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- A cybercriminal allegedly sought an account to receive money taken from a victim.
- QQAAZZ members allegedly supplied recipient account details.
- The cybercriminal initiated or attempted an electronic transfer from the victim’s account.
- QQAAZZ members allegedly received the funds, then withdrew or moved them. Prosecutors said some funds were converted to cryptocurrency using tumbling services.
- The network allegedly returned the remaining funds to the cybercriminal after taking its fee.
The 2019 indictment alleged that the fee was typically 40–50 percent of stolen funds. DOJ’s 2020 summary described fees of up to 40–50 percent. These are allegations in charging documents, not findings that establish the conduct of any particular defendant. Read the 2019 indictment filed in United States v. Trofimovics et al.
The indictment also alleged that shell companies conducted no legitimate business and that members used both legitimate and fraudulent identity documents to set up companies and accounts. It charged conduct under 18 U.S.C. § 1956, including financial transactions and transfers allegedly intended to conceal or disguise the nature, location, source, ownership or control of proceeds from computer, wire or bank fraud.
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What did the international operation involve?
DOJ reported more than 40 house searches in Latvia, Bulgaria, the United Kingdom, Spain and Italy. It also said authorities seized a bitcoin-mining operation associated with the group in Bulgaria. The release said parallel prosecutions were initiated in the United States, Portugal, Spain and the United Kingdom, with investigations coordinated among international partners.
Search locations and prosecution jurisdictions are different categories; the announcement does not say that every country connected to the wider network was searched or pursued through a parallel prosecution. U.S. Attorney Scott W. Brady said law enforcement from 16 countries had conducted coordinated investigations.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What does this case establish—and what does it not?
The indictments and complaint set out prosecutors’ allegations and the charges brought at the time. DOJ explicitly cautioned that an indictment is an accusation and that defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. The available announcement and indictment do not establish a final disposition for every defendant or for the case as a whole, so the allegations should not be presented as convictions.
The case illustrates how prosecutors alleged that cybercriminals used account networks, shell companies and fund-moving services to obscure proceeds. It does not provide a statistical study of money laundering or a measured prevalence estimate for these methods.
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What officials said about the operation
Acting Assistant Attorney General Brian C. Rabbitt said: “Our message to money laundering organizations like QQAAZZ is simple: international borders will not stop the dedicated efforts of law enforcement across the globe to bring you to justice.”
Europol’s European Cybercrime Centre head Fernando Ruiz said: “Today’s operation shows how through a proper law enforcement international coordination we can turn the table on these criminals and bring them to justice.” Both remarks appeared in the DOJ’s October 15, 2020 announcement.
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