US citizens jailed for aiding North Korea's $5M IT scheme

Two U.S. citizens have been sentenced to lengthy prison terms for their involvement in a scheme that facilitated North Korea's acquisition of approximately $5 million through fraudulent IT worker placements. The individuals operated 'laptop farms' within the United States, enabling North Korean operatives to connect remotely and appear as legitimate employees of over 100 American companies, including Fortune 500 firms. This operation not only funneled funds to North Korea but also involved identity theft and potential trade secret theft, even impacting an unnamed AI company. The Justice Department highlighted the national security risks posed by this elaborate ruse.