Russian National Charged in PA Golf Course Hacking Scheme

Pennsylvania -- Western District of Pennsylvania -- Press Release 

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Department of Justice

U.S. Attorney’s Office
Western District of Pennsylvania

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Thursday, November 29, 2018

Russian National Charged in Hacking Scheme Targeting Pittsburgh National Golf Course
PITTSBURGH - A Russian national has been indicted by a federal grand jury in Pittsburgh on charges of wire fraud, computer fraud and money laundering, United States Attorney Scott W. Brady announced today.

The five-count indictment, returned on Nov. 27, named Ilya Kulkov, of Barnaul, Russia, as the sole defendant.

According to the indictment presented to the Court, between January 22, 2017 and February 2, 2017, Kulkov hacked into a desktop computer located at the Pittsburgh National Golf Course in Gibsonia, Pennsylvania, from his home in Russia. Once Kulkov had control of Pittsburgh National’s computer, he engaged in a systematic pattern of internet fraud by buying and exporting products from the United States to Barnaul, Russia.

"Over the past year, we have aggressively investigated and prosecuted cyber criminals, both foreign and domestic," said U.S. Attorney Brady. "The use of computers and the internet is now part of everyone’s daily life. From our prosecution of officers of the Russia intelligence directorate to the hacking of routers in 43 countries to internet fraud targeting our elderly residents, our office will go to the ends of the earth to hold cyber criminals accountable and protect the citizens of western Pennsylvania."

The law provides for a sentence of not more than twenty years in prison, a fine of not more than $250,000 or both. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed would be based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.

Assistant United States Attorney Jessica Lieber Smolar is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.

The Internal Revenue Service - Criminal Investigation and the Federal Bureau of Investigation conducted the investigation leading to the indictment in this case.

An indictment is an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.