WILMINGTON, N.C. — An Iranian national pleaded guilty on Tuesday in North Carolina federal court for his role in a ransomware and extortion operation that prosecutors say targeted computer networks for Baltimore and other U.S. cities, a scheme that led to work disruptions and financial losses.
Sina Gholinejad, 37, pleaded guilty to one count of computer fraud and abuse and one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, according to a U.S. Department of Justice news release. A plea hearing for Gholinejad had been scheduled for Tuesday morning before U.S. District Judge Richard Myers in Wilmington. Gholinejad faces a maximum of 30 years in prison, with a sentencing hearing set for August, the release said.
The Justice Department said court documents and statements made in court show Gholinejad and unidentified coconspirators caused cyberattacks in which they encrypted files on the targeted networks with the RobbinHood ransomware variant to extort ransom payments. Attack recipients included city governments of Greenville, North Carolina in April 2019, and of Baltimore a month later. Corporations and other entities were targeted…