$15M Reward: US Targets North Korea Over Jailed American

Arizona Woman Jailed in Massive North Korean Hacking Scheme: A $17 Million Heist

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**Did you know a sophisticated North Korean hacking ring stole over $17 million from 309 US companies?** This isn't some Cold War relic; it's happening *now*, and an Arizona woman just got hit with a hefty prison sentence for her role. Get ready for a shocking story of deception, international intrigue, and a laptop farm unlike any you've ever seen.

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The Fall of Christina Chapman: A Laptop Farm's Dark Secret

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Christina Marie Chapman, 50, of Litchfield Park, Arizona, thought she was pulling off the perfect crime. She wasn't. For years, Chapman unknowingly played a key role in a massive North Korean cybercrime operation. The scheme? Masquerading North Korean IT workers as legitimate American employees to infiltrate hundreds of unsuspecting companies.

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Between October 2020 and October 2023, Chapman’s seemingly ordinary home transformed into a clandestine operation center – a bustling "laptop farm." She received and housed laptops from US companies, providing a crucial cover for the North Korean hackers. Imagine the whirring of dozens of machines, each one a portal to a different corporate network. The air thick with the hum of deceit.

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A Raid, 90 Laptops, and a Global Conspiracy

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The seemingly quiet life Chapman led in Litchfield Park shattered in October 2023. Authorities raided her home, seizing approximately 90 laptops – the digital bread crumbs leading to a massive international conspiracy. Court documents reveal that she shipped at least 49 of these stolen computers overseas, some even reaching a Chinese city bordering North Korea!

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The victims? A who's who of American industry – an aerospace manufacturer, a major car company, a prominent television network, a technology giant, and even a luxury retailer. All were targets of this brazen scheme. This wasn't some small-time operation; this was a sophisticated, well-organized, and incredibly lucrative attack. But how did they pull it off? We'll uncover that next.

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The $17 Million Price of Deception: How the Scheme Worked

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This wasn't just about stealing laptops; this was about stealing identities and money. The North Korean hackers used stolen identities to land jobs at these US companies. Chapman received and even forged payroll checks, funneling millions of dollars into her own accounts. The total haul? Over $17.1 million in illicit revenue.

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This stunning fraud resulted in a 102-month prison sentence for Chapman, plus three years of supervised release. She also faces a forfeiture of $284,555 and a judgment of $176,850.

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The Wider Web: North Korea's Shadowy IT Army Chapman's case is just the tip of the iceberg. North Korea is believed to employ thousands of skilled IT workers globally, generating an estimated $250 million to $600 million annually through illicit activities. Their schemes are varied and sophisticated, extending far beyond this single case. The Hunt is On: A $15 Million Reward Following the disruption of 29 similar laptop farms, the US government is offering a massive reward – a total of $15 million – for information leading to the arrest or conviction of key players in this global cybercrime operation. This includes seven specific North Korean nationals involved in schemes ranging from cryptocurrency theft to the trafficking of counterfeit goods. **Are you ready to learn more about the individuals behind this vast network and the ongoing fight against North Korea's sophisticated cyberattacks? Stay tuned for the next chapter.** (SEO Keywords: North Korea hacking, cybercrime, laptop farm, Arizona, Christina Chapman, international conspiracy, US government reward)