7:49 PMPYMNTS
Ransomware Negotiator Gets 6 Years in Prison for Assisting Scammers
Summary
A ransomware negotiator, Angelo Martino, was sentenced to 70 months in federal prison after prosecutors said he helped criminals scam the very clients who hired him for incident response. The Justice Department said he abused his role at Digital Mint to enrich himself while victims were negotiating with attackers.
Why it matters
Ransomware response depends on trust, and this case pushes victims toward more compliance heavy, verifiable negotiation and payment processes.