New York prosecutors have indicted five men in connection with a four year investigation into a credit card fraud ring accused of stealing at least $4 million.
Authorities say that from 2001 through 2007 the Internet-based criminal enterprise - the "Western Express Cybercrime Group" - was dedicated to trafficking in stolen credit card numbers and other personal identifiers.
The Manhattan District Attorney's office alleges that the group is responsible for over $4 million worth of identified credit card fraud, and trafficked in well over 95,000 stolen credit card numbers.
The charge sheet alleges that the defendants used carding Web sites, instant messaging and digital currencies to transfer and launder funds and conceal their identities from the authorities.
In November 2007 17 individuals and one corporation were charged in a 173-count indictment. Previously, the indictment had been sealed as to the five newly named defendants, who all lived overseas.
The DA now says two men - Viatcheslav Vasilyev and Vladimir Kramarenko - were arrested at their homes in Prague last July before being extradited last week. They are accused of buying stolen card details, often using digital currencies.
Ukrainan Egor Shevelev was arrested while on holiday in Greece last year and is awaiting extradition on similar charges. The remaining two defendants - Dzimitry Burak from and Oleg Koveli - have not yet been apprehended.