COLUMBUS, OH – Aleksandr Bogomolny, a 53-year-old man from Brooklyn, New York, has pleaded guilty to money laundering charges after stealing nearly $500,000 from Rogue Fitness, a Columbus-based fitness equipment manufacturer. Bogomolny was arrested following an investigation led by the FBI, which uncovered a sophisticated scheme involving computer malware, online gambling apps, and identity theft.
On Friday, Bogomolny admitted in U.S. District Court to conspiring to commit and committing money laundering. His illegal activities involved using trojan horse malware to steal money from Rogue Fitness and then laundering it through various methods, including the use of a sports betting app.
How the Scheme Unfolded
In March 2021, Rogue Fitness reported to the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center that it had detected 78 unauthorized transfers from one of its PayPal accounts, totaling nearly $500,000. During the investigation, FBI agents discovered that the company’s customer service employee had been unknowingly infected by a trojan horse program, a form of malware that can steal sensitive banking information from a victim’s computer.
The stolen funds were transferred to 22 different credit card accounts, including one linked to Bogomolny’s personal Bank of America account. Between December 2019 and July 2021, he laundered over $247,000 of the stolen money through his own bank account.
Bogomolny further conspired to launder money through FanDuel, an online sports gambling platform. By stealing a victim’s identity, he created an account on the site and deposited the criminal proceeds. These funds were later withdrawn from the account.
Bogomolny’s Criminal Activities and Undercover Sting
Bogomolny’s illegal activities didn’t stop there. In 2023, he met with undercover FBI agents and agreed to launder $20,000 from drug sales for a 6% fee. He successfully sent $18,800 of the original funds back to the undercover agents.
In April 2024, Bogomolny was arrested after accepting an additional $50,000 from the undercover agents in another money-laundering transaction. The FBI operation culminated in his arrest as part of an ongoing investigation into his criminal activities.
Legal Consequences and Potential Sentencing
Bogomolny faces serious consequences for his actions. Money laundering and conspiring to launder money are federal crimes in the U.S., with a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison upon conviction. The final sentence will be determined by the court at a future hearing.
This case highlights the sophistication of modern financial crimes and the persistent efforts of federal authorities in investigating and prosecuting individuals involved in money laundering and cybercrime. The use of malware and online platforms like FanDuel for money laundering underscores the growing intersection of technology and criminal activity in today’s digital world.
Key Takeaways
Bogomolny stole nearly $500,000 from Rogue Fitness using trojan horse malware.
The funds were laundered through online gambling sites and multiple credit card accounts.
He was arrested after participating in an undercover sting operation.
If convicted, he faces up to 20 years in prison for money laundering and conspiracy.
FBI Agents encourage individuals and businesses to stay vigilant and protect themselves from the risks of cybercrime and financial fraud.
