Arizonan sentenced to 8 years in prison for helping North Korea exploit U.S. companies

Christina Marie Chapman, a 50-year-old Arizona woman, was sentenced to 102 months in prison for facilitating a scheme that exploited over 300 American companies. The U. S. Department of Justice revealed that Chapman helped North Korean IT workers secure remote jobs by posing as U. S.

citizens, resulting in over $17 million in illicit earnings. She pleaded guilty to identity theft, wire fraud, and money laundering, with U. S. District Court Judge Randolph D. Moss ordering her to forfeit nearly $285,000 and pay a $176,850 judgment.

Federal prosecutors highlighted that Chapman’s actions involved reporting millions of dollars in income to the IRS using stolen identities. The elaborate scheme included shipping laptops to North Korea and hosting overseas workers' computers to mask their true location. Acting Assistant Attorney General Matthew Galeotti remarked on the severe consequences of prioritizing personal gain over national security. The FBI continues to pursue individuals involved in similar criminal activities linked to North Korea. This case underscores the risks posed by foreign adversaries leveraging U.

S. technology and labor markets.