Is Trump a Russian asset?
Roland Temmerman, masters Social Sciences & Political Science (1990)
Answered Sun
Hello!
Great question, thank you!
I’m really starting to believe he most definitely is. Here’s why.
Meet Maksim Viktorovich Yakubets. This swell guy is wanted for his involvement with computer malware that infected tens of thousands of computers in both North America and Europe, resulting in actual financial losses in the tens of millions of dollars through his firm Evil Corp.
Specifically, Yakubets was involved in the installation of malicious software known as "Zeus", which was disseminated through phishing emails and used to capture victims’ online banking credentials. These credentials were then used to steal money from the victims' bank accounts. On August 22, 2012, an individual was charged in a superseding indictment under the moniker “aqua” in the District of Nebraska with conspiracy to participate in racketeering activity, conspiracy to commit computer fraud and identity theft, aggravated identity theft, and multiple counts of bank fraud. On November 14, 2019, a criminal complaint was issued in the District of Nebraska that ties the previously indicted moniker of “aqua” to Yakubets and charges him with conspiracy to commit bank fraud.
Yakubets is also allegedly the leader of the Bugat/Cridex/Dridex malware conspiracy wherein he oversaw and managed the development, maintenance, distribution, and infection of the malware. Yakubets allegedly conspired to disseminate the malware through phishing emails, to use the malware to capture online banking credentials, and to use these captured credentials to steal money from the victims’ bank accounts. He, subsequently, used the malware to install ransomware on victims’ computers. Yakubets was indicted in the Western District of Pennsylvania, on November 13, 2019, and was charged with Conspiracy, Conspiracy to Commit Fraud, Wire Fraud, Bank Fraud, and Intentional Damage to a Computer. U.S. and British authorities are seeking the arrest of Russian national Maksim Yakubets. MAKSIM VIKTOROVICH YAKUBETS | Federal Bureau of Investigation
Now what does this have to do with our president you ask? Oh just this little thing. Remember Russia’s foreign minister Lavrov visit to the White House last Tuesday? Well apparently, Lavrov may have ordered Trump to *remove immediately* three Russian ‘companies’ connected with Evil Corp cyber ops; and they’re now stricken from the recently imposed list of sanctioned Russian entities. No surprise there because Individual-1 Trump obeys his masters!!
Greg Olear
?@gregolear
I hate to disagree with Fred, but we've already seen "Evil Corp.," "Mafia Rave," and "Fraud Guarantee," so why not "Mogilevich Mob Holdings Ltd." or "Firtash Lackof Trust?" t.co
Fred Harding@OPCGhost
I doubt when Trump's financials are finally released that Republicans will have any problem defending him on issues like StarNight Inv III, S.A., Tortolla, appearing to funnel him money.
It's not like it's gonna say "Russian Mob Guy Gave Money Here on This Day, Incorporated"
1:34 PM - Dec 6, 2019
Even as Yakubets got indicted by the FBI, he’s also connected to the FSB, and Russian companies connected to Evil Corp got their US sanctions dropped.
US authorities have filed charges against two Russian nationals alleged to be running a global cyber crime organisation named Evil Corp. An indictment named Maksim Yakubets and Igor Turashev
Karol Cummins@karolcummins
· Dec 13, 2019
Replying to @karolcummins
 SanctionRelief3
Yakubets also was involved with Zeus, another pernicious hacking tool.
Both suspects remain at large in Russia.
The indictment against Yakubets and Turashev is in conjunction with U.S. sanctions against Evil Corp, which the TD says is the criminal org.
Karol Cummins@karolcummins
SanctionRelief4
Evil Corp is led by Yakubets who has provided direct assistance to the Russian gov’t’s “malicious cyber efforts, highlighting the Russian government’s enlistment of cybercriminals for its own malicious purposes,” the Treasury Dept said in a statement.
 
8:53 PM - Dec 13, 2019
Evil Corp is the Russia-based cybercriminal organization responsible for the development and distribution of the Dridex malware. The Dridex malware is a multifunctional malware package that is designed to automate the theft of confidential information, to include online banking credentials from infected computers.
home.treasury.gov/…
Operating from the basements of Moscow cafes, investigators say Yakubets' group targeted victims in some 21 municipalities in one of the most widespread malware campaigns U.S. authorities have ever encountered.
The group infiltrated banks and non-profits from California to Maine. Among the victims, authorities say, were a luggage business in New Mexico, a dairy in Ohio and a community of Franciscan sisters in Chicago.
"These two cases demonstrate our commitment to unmasking the perpetrators behind the world's most egregious cyberattacks," said Assistant Attorney General Brian Benczkowski, who leads the Justice Department's criminal division. "It is fair to say that they are not out of business at this point, but that is our ultimate goal."
Officials say Evil Corp. developed and distributed a type of malware that infected computers around the world and harvested banking credentials in order to steal some $100 million.
www.wfdd.org/...
A decade-long crime spree perhaps given up by Russia for some other undeclared considerations. Did Gusev have more Kremlin juice than Takubets and Turashev to merit the lifting of sanctions and evade the indictments.
Aside from the optics of Lavrov appearing for Trump during impeachment, was he in the US among many reasons, to assure the sanction-lifting on Gusev, no different than the lifting of sanctions on Oleg Deripaska coincident with the announcement of the $200 million aluminum plant in Eastern Kentucky.
WIRED
?@WIRED
For the last decade, the hackers behind Evil Corp have led a sustained assault on the bank accounts of thousands of victims across dozens of countries. Now the FBI has indicted Evil Corp’s alleged leader: Maksim Yakubets. t.co
Alleged Russian Hacker Behind $100 Million Evil Corp IndictedThe US is charging Maksim Yakubets over two of the biggest cybertheft campaigns of the last decade, and offers a record reward for information on the case.
wired.com
1:22 AM - Dec 6, 2019
The FBI also first asked for that assistance in 2010. But in a separate announcement Thursday of sanctions against Evil Corp and its enablers, spanning 17 individuals and seven entities in all, the US Treasury Department alleged that Yakubets later signed on with Russia’s FSB intelligence agency. “In addition to his leadership role within Evil Corp, Yakubets has also provided direct assistance to the Russian government,” the agency’s statement reads. “As of 2017, Yakubets was working for the Russian FSB, one of Russia’s leading intelligence organizations.”
It’s unclear exactly what role Yakubets is accused of playing with the FSB, but the allegations include “acquiring confidential documents through cyber-enabled means and conducting cyber-enabled operations.”
The indictment, criminal complaint, and sanctions announcement collectively paint Yakubets as something of a cybercrime Zelig. “Yakubets has allegedly been involved in cybercrime on an almost unimaginable scale for over a decade,” said the DOJ’s Brian Benczkowski.
Alleged Russian Hacker Behind $100 Million Evil Corp Indicted
Interfax news agency claims the sanction lifting is due to name confusion, considering all those Denis Gusevs in Russia being like John Smiths in the US.
Polly Sigh@dcpoll
"US Treasury has dropped from the sanctions list Russian companies, LLC TsAO, LLC Vertical, and LLC Unicom, that were blacklisted on Dec 5 as related to Denis Gusev, who, according to US authorities, leads hacker group, Evil Corp, which stole $50M+ from banks around the world." t.co
Jeff Stone
?@jeffstone500
After Sergey Lavrov's meeting with Pompeo, it looks like Treasury Department scrubbed 3 Russian companies tied the alleged leader of the Evil Corp. hacking crew, from the sanctions list, per @meduza_en. https://meduza.io/news/2019/12/13/minfin-ssha-isklyuchil-iz-sanktsionnogo-spiska-tri-rossiyskie-kompanii-ih-vnesli-v-chernyy-list-iz-za-svyazi-s-chlenom-evil-corp …
11:47 AM - Dec 13, 2019
Olga Lautman@olgaNYC1211
Now that I have a minute I'll explain.
Last wk Evil Corp & all companies/individuals associated w it were sanctioned over a massive $100 million financial bank hacking scheme. These companies that sanctions were lifted from belong to Denis Gusev who is senior leader of the group t.co
Olga Lautman@olgaNYC1211
Replying to @olgaNYC1211
Omg it's even worse then I thought. Wow
129
11:53 AM - Dec 13, 2019
Olga Lautman@olgaNYC1211
· Dec 13, 2019
This is outrageous @stevenmnuchin1 lifted sanctions on 6 russian companies. Instead of slamming them with more sanctions they continue to get relief @LindseyGrahamSC
Btw Ministry of Finance is our Treasury Dept
Olga Lautman@olgaNYC1211
Omg it's even worse then I thought. Wow
339
10:48 AM - Dec 13, 2019
Wake up Republican party voters and smell the stench of treason. Also stop wearing those damn I’d rather be a Russian than a Democrat shirts!! This isn’t about being liberal or conservative anymore. You’re either an American or you’re not! Your choice! I know who I’m rooting for and I sure hope you do too!
Sources: Everyone linked in the tekst and special thanks to eState4column5©2013 (@eState4Column5) | Twitter
Edward Adamchek
Sun · 7 upvotes including Roland Temmerman
If POTUS is responsible for lifting sanctions against this malignant hacker & his “companies,” after the FBI had targeted him, but at the behest of the Russian White House “visitor,” what are we supposed to believe?
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Roland Temmerman
Original Author · Sun · 18 upvotes including Edward Adamchek
It is all too coincidental Edward. Nothing surprises me anymore the lenghts Trump and his administration will go to sell out our country and the Republican party is just fine with that because it keeps them in power. For the time being that is… |
