US woman gets 8-year sentence for stealing identities to give North Koreans jobs

July 24, 2025

Christina Chapman has been sentenced to over eight years in prison for identity theft and fraud that benefited North Korea. She admitted to stealing the identities of 68 US citizens and helping foreign workers pose as Americans to gain employment at more than 300 companies, generating $17 million that was sent to North Korea. Chapman ran "laptop farms" from her homes in Arizona and Minnesota, allowing North Korean workers to remotely connect to company-issued computers.

Who is affected

68 US citizens whose identities were stolen
309 American companies (including Fortune 500 companies like Nike) and two international firms that were defrauded
US financial institutions that processed fraudulent transactions
Christina Chapman, who was sentenced to prison
American national security, as funds were directed to North Korea's weapons program

What action is being taken

Chapman has been sentenced to 102 months in prison
Chapman has been ordered to forfeit $176,850 she received for the conspiracy plus $284,000 in profits meant for North Koreans
US Attorney General Jeanine Pirro is warning companies to be alert for similar North Korean plots
The FBI is investigating North Korean fraud schemes targeting US citizens and businesses

Why it matters

The scheme generated approximately $17 million that was reportedly sent to North Korea's nuclear weapons program
The fraud demonstrates North Korea's ability to operate within the US through proxies like Chapman
The case reveals vulnerabilities in how American companies verify employee identities and monitor remote work setups
The operation shows sophisticated tactics being used by North Korea to evade sanctions and fund weapons development
US officials warn this represents a direct threat to American security and economic interests

What's next

No explicit next steps stated in the article

Read full article from source: BBC