Ransomware negotiator pleads guilty to helping ransomware gang

Former ransomware negotiator Angelo Martino pleaded guilty to extortion after secretly helping the ALPHV/BlackCat gang.

Prosecutors said he shared victim information and negotiation details while posing as a defender.

He allegedly worked with other insiders to target multiple U.S. victims and boost ransom payouts.

The case highlights how trusted incident-response professionals can abuse privileged access to aid cybercriminals.