US Jury Finds Russian National Seleznev Guilty of Cybercrime

Russian citizen Roman Seleznev was found guilty on Thursday by a jury panel at a US court of cybercrimes involving stealing and reselling credit card information.

SEATTLE (Sputnik) — Seleznev, 32, who is the son of Russian parliament member Valery Seleznev, has been charged with 40 counts of bank fraud, hacking into secured computer networks, possession of illegal hacking devices as well as aggravated identity theft.

When he was arrested in 2014, US federal agents discovered that Seleznev had illegally obtained the data of more than 1.7 million credit card holders. According to investigators, Seleznev caused around $170 million in damage to several small businesses.

According to the court ruling announced by US District Judge Richard Jones, Seleznev's sentencing will be pronounced on December 2.

The defense of Seleznev will appeal his future sentencing, Seleznev's lawyer John Henry Browne said.

Brown told reporters after the jury verdict that there are many reasons for appeal, including the legality of Seleznev's arrest while on vacation in the Maldives by US Secret Service agents and his subsequent extradition to the United States.

Brown also did not rule out possible negotiations on Seleznev's exchange in line with European Convention on the Transfer of Sentenced Persons.