Ukrainian gets five years for helping North Koreans secure US tech jobs
The Register
February 20, 2026
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A Ukrainian national, Oleksandr Didenko, has been sentenced to five years in prison for his role in helping North Korean IT workers secure fraudulent US tech jobs. Didenko operated a website, Upworksell.com, which facilitated identity theft by allowing North Koreans to assume stolen identities of US citizens and apply for jobs in the United States. This scheme enabled Pyongyang to fund its military programs through illicit earnings from these workers' salaries.
The 29-year-old pleaded guilty to wire fraud and aggravated identity theft in November 2025. His operation involved creating over 871 proxy identities and coordinating with individuals across California, Tennessee, and Virginia to run "laptop farms." These farms allowed North Korean workers to remotely access US company networks, appearing as if they were based in the US. Didenko also managed salary payments through money services businesses to avoid opening US bank accounts.
The Justice Department revealed that Didenko's actions funneled hundreds of thousands of dollars into North Korea's coffers, which are used for military purposes. His activities violated US sanctions aimed at preventing North Koreans from working in American companies. Didenko was arrested in Poland and extradited to the US,
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Originally published on The Register on 2/20/2026