The ransomware negotiator who was working for the other side

A federal judge sentenced Florida ransomware negotiator Angelo John Martino III to 70 months in prison last week for sharing confidential victim information with the BlackCat ransomware group, authorities said. Martino, 41, worked for Chicago-based incident response firm DigitalMint negotiating on behalf of organizations hit by ransomware attacks. Starting in April 2023, he secretly fed BlackCat affiliates details of victims' insurance policy limits, internal negotiating positions and financial circumstances through a hidden tab in the negotiation panel, prosecutors said. In exchange, Martino received a cut of ransom payments. Five of Martino's clients collectively paid more than $75.3 million in ransoms between April and September 2023, including a nonprofit that paid nearly $26.8 million and a financial services company that paid nearly $25.7 million. A hospitality company ultimately paid nearly $16.5 million after Martino tipped off attackers about its limited insurance payout. Martino also deployed BlackCat ransomware himself with two colleagues, Kevin Martin and Ryan Goldberg, extorting $1.2 million from a medical device company. Martin and Goldberg were sentenced to four years in prison in April 2026. Authorities seized $10 million of Martino's assets, which included two Florida properties, a boat and several vehicles. A September hearing will determine additional restitution. Assistant Director Brett Leatherman of the FBI Cyber Division said Martino sold out victims he was hired to represent. DigitalMint was described as an unknowing victim and has changed how its negotiators communicate with ransomware gangs.