Son of Russian MP on trial accused over $170m fraud

The son of a Russian MP is due to go on trial in the US accused of orchestrating an international scheme that resulted in around $170 million (€152m) in fraudulent credit card purchases.

In a federal jury trial that begins this week, prosecutors plan to lay out evidence that they say will prove Roman Seleznev hacked into US businesses, mostly pizza restaurants in Washington state, and stole credit card information. They claim he made millions by selling that data on underground internet forums.

Seleznev’s lawyers plan to argue that prosecutors have failed to adequately connect him with the hacks that hit more than 200 businesses over several years.