Russian national charged with hacking Pittsburgh golf course to commit fraud

A Russian national was charged with hacking into the computer systems of Pittsburgh National Golf Course in Gibsonia, Pa., to commit various types of fraud.

Ilya Kulkov, of Barnaul, Russia, was charged with a five-count indictment accusing him of crimes including wire fraud, computer fraud and money laundering, U.S. Attorney Scott W. Brady said in a Nov. 29 DOJ press release.

Authorities said that between January 22, 2017, and February 2, 2017, Kulkov hacked into a desktop computer at the golf course from his home in Russia to engage in a systematic pattern of internet fraud that consisted of buying and exporting products from the U.S. to Barnaul.

"Over the past year, we have aggressively investigated and prosecuted cyber criminals, both foreign and domestic,"  Brady said in the release. "The use of computers and the internet is now part of everyone’s daily life. From our prosecution of officers of the Russia intelligence directorate to the hacking of routers in 43 countries to internet fraud targeting our elderly residents, our office will go to the ends of the earth to hold cyber criminals accountable and protect the citizens of western Pennsylvania."

Kulkov faces more than 20 years in prison and a fine of not more than $250,000 if convicted.