Acting on an intelligence tip and an Interpol Red Notice, the Czech Republic Police performed an FBI-aided raid on October 5, arresting Yevgeniy Aleksandrovich Nikulin of Moscow, who was suspected of hacking U.S.-based targets. At the time of his arrest, Nikulin appeared to be in such shock he collapsed and was consequently hospitalized. Since then, the man has been indicted by a grand jury in Oakland, California for breaching Dropbox, Formspring and LinkedIn. The indictment, only recently uncapped, revealed that Nikulin allegedly hacked into protected computers within the three major sites to steal information and credentials with the intent of selling that information. Evidence against him includes email exchange with un-named co-conspirators who referred to Nikulin as an effective and reliable broker of stolen user credentials.
Nikulin faces a number of charges, including three counts of computer intrusion, two of intentional transmission of information, code or command causing damage to a protected computer, two more of aggravated identity theft, one of trafficking in unauthorized devices and one more of conspiracy. As of now, he is reportedly still in custody in Prague but could receive decades in prison, as well as fines up to $1 million, if the jury returns with a guilty verdict on all charges against him.