The man allegedly ran a remote IT company to exclusively hire North Korean actors.
The Department of Justice (DOJ) arrested Nashville resident Matthew Isaac Knoot for allegedly facilitating money laundering and remote worker fraud on behalf of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (North Korea).
Knoot helped North Korean actors obtain false identities as U.S. citizens, allowing them to be hired as remote workers for American and British IT companies. He then used company laptops at his place of residence to launder payments to North Korea through these false employee accounts.
“As alleged, this defendant facilitated a scheme to deceive U.S. companies into hiring foreign remote IT workers who were paid hundreds of thousands of dollars in income funneled to the DPRK for its weapons program,” said DOJ Assistant Attorney General Matthew Olsen.
“This indictment should serve as a stark warning to U.S. businesses that employ remote IT workers of the growing threat from the DPRK and the need to be vigilant in their hiring processes,” Assistant Attorney General Olsen said.
As the Lord Leads, Pray with Us…
- For Assistant Attorney General Olsen to receive God’s direction as he handles cases in the DOJ.
- For wisdom for Justice Department officials as they seek to hold foreign agents, spies, and perpetrators of fraud accountable.
Sources: Department of Justice
