A person of Armenian descent has been sent to the U.S. to be prosecuted for his alleged involvement in running RedLine, a widely used malware program that steals sensitive information.

Hambardzum Minasyan was taken into custody on March 23, and appeared in an Austin federal court on the following day. U.S. government lawyers accuse him of registering servers and domains used in RedLine attacks.

Prosecutors also allege he created a crypto account used by the RedLine group to pay affiliates in November 2021. Furthermore, he is accused of setting up online spaces for sharing files, which were used to distribute the malware.

According to the Justice Department statement, Minasyan allegedly collaborated with others to profit from developing and managing RedLine, a prevalent malware strain used in breaches against major businesses. The malware steals data from victims’ computers, including login credentials.

Minasyan, with help, oversaw the operational infrastructure, including admin panels and C2 servers utilized by affiliates to spread the information-stealing malware to victims’ devices.

The group also allegedly assisted both current and potential sellers of the RedLine software by answering questions and assisting with requests, and also plotted to steal financial data from victims and clean the ill-gotten gains, using crypto exchanges and other means.

Minasyan is being charged with access device fraud, violating the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act, and conspiracy to commit money laundering, resulting in a potential 30-year prison sentence if found guilty.

In October 2024, the Dutch police confiscated the server network for Redline, a malware-as-a-service, with help from international partners in “Operation Magnus.”

The U.S. also indicted Russian citizen Maxim Alexandrovich Rudometov, thought to be the developer and manager of RedLine. He could face up to 35 years behind bars if convicted of crimes related to access device fraud, computer intrusion, and money laundering conspiracy.

Recently, in June 2025, the U.S. State Department announced a reward of up to $10 million for information that leads to the arrest of government-backed hackers associated with RedLine and its possible creator.