A Russian hacker accused of helping pull off the biggest theft yet of consumer bank data in the US has been extradited to that country to face charges, federal prosecutors said on Friday.

Russian national Andrei Tyurin was arrested by Georgian authorities to face charges that he helped steal personal data of more than 80 million JP Morgan Chase customers in a massive hacking scheme uncovered by federal prosecutors three years ago, according to US prosecutor Geoffrey S Berman.

Tyurin is alleged to have participated in a global hacking ring that ran illegal internet casinos and payment processors and targeted the publisher of The Wall Street Journal and brokers such as E-Trade and Scottrade.

Phone calls to Tyurin’s attorney were not immediately returned. In an indictment unsealed on Friday, Tyurin, 35, is charged with 10 counts of conspiracy to commit computer hacking, securities fraud, illegal internet gambling, and wire and bank fraud, the latter carrying a maximum prison term of 30 years.

He follows several other accused of participating in the sprawling hacking enterprise.

“As Americans increasingly turn to online banking, theft of online personal information can cause devastating effects on their financial wellbeing, sometimes taking years to recover,” said Berman. “Today’s extradition marks a milestone in the fight against cyber intrusions targeting our critical financial institutions.”

Prosecutors have named several alleged co-accused, including Israeli Gery Shalon and American Joshua Aaron. AP African News Agency (ANA)

By BERNARD CONDON

Russian extradited to US on hacking charges