Canadian national Sebastian Vachon-Desjardins, 35, has been sentenced to 20 years in prison for his role in NetWalker ransomware attacks.
NetWalker is a sophisticated form of ransomware that has targeted universities, colleges, governments, businesses and healthcare organizations. These types of attacks have targeted healthcare organizations during the COVID-19 pandemic to take advantage of hospitals and health systems during the crisis, according to the Oct. 4 Justice Department news release.
Mr. Vachon-Desjardins was extradited to the United States and is ordered to forfeit $21.5 million as part of his sentencing. The Tampa Federal Bureau of Investigations field office handled the case.