In a significant crackdown on North Korea’s illicit IT worker scheme, a U.S. District Court sentenced Arizona resident Christina Marie Chapman to eight and a half years in prison for operating a laptop farm that facilitated the scheme.

Chapman, aged 50, pleaded guilty in February to charges of wire fraud, money laundering, and identity theft after the FBI uncovered her pivotal role in enabling North Korean operatives to secure high-paying IT jobs at major U.S. companies using stolen identities.

The operation was extensive, assisting North Korean IT workers in obtaining employment at 309 companies, including prominent organizations such as a major television network, a car manufacturer, a media company, and a Silicon Valley tech firm. The scheme also involved unsuccessful attempts to infiltrate two U.S. government agencies, highlighting the audacity and scope of the operation.

The mechanics of the fraud involved North Korean operatives using fake identities to secure remote IT positions, with work laptops shipped to Chapman’s Arizona home. From there, she facilitated daily remote access to the IT networks of the unsuspecting U.S. companies, allowing the North Korean workers to perform their roles covertly from abroad.

In October 2023, the FBI raided Chapman’s home, seizing over 90 laptops used in the scheme. She also shipped 49 laptops to overseas locations, including a Chinese city near the North Korean border, further enabling the remote work arrangement. Her operation generated approximately $17 million for the North Korean government, marking it as one of the largest such schemes prosecuted by the Department of Justice.

Chapman’s role extended to managing the financial aspects of the fraud. She used 68 stolen identities to forge payroll checks and handle wages through direct deposits, subsequently transferring the funds to overseas recipients. She also reported millions in income to the IRS under the names of the identity theft victims, further concealing the scheme’s true nature.

U.S. District Court Judge Randolph Moss sentenced Chapman to 102 months in prison, followed by three years of supervised release. She was ordered to forfeit nearly $300,000 intended for North Korea and to pay a fine exceeding $175,000.

Chapman’s arrest in May 2024 was part of a broader U.S. effort to dismantle the North Korean IT worker network, which also involved the arrest of a Ukrainian accomplice, Oleksandr Didenko, in Poland, with extradition to the U.S. pending.

The scheme’s broader implications were underscored by its ties to North Korea’s Munitions Industry Department, which oversees the country’s ballistic missile and weapons programs.

The North Korean operatives, posing as software developers under aliases like Jiho Han, Chunji Jin, and Haoran Xu, exploited remote work trends post-pandemic, using artificial intelligence to craft convincing resumes and navigate job interviews, often stealing sensitive data or cryptocurrency if detected.

The sentencing coincided with multiple U.S. actions against the scheme, including sanctions on three senior North Korean officials and a $15 million reward for information on six others.

The FBI, alongside other agencies, has been pursuing these networks for nearly three years, as North Korea continues to exploit remote IT roles across regions like China, Russia, and Southeast Asia to fund its nuclear weapons program, victimizing American citizens and businesses in the process.

FBI Deputy Director Dan Bongino has posted a cryptic message on social media stating that he has learned things during his tenure that "shocked" him to "his core" and have changed him forever. The post comes amid ongoing tensions within the Trump administration, including revelations by Tulsi Gabbard and calls to release the Jeffrey Epstein files.

Bongino stated that during his time as Deputy Director, he has repeatedly mentioned that things are happening that may not be immediately visible but are occurring. He emphasized the need to combat public corruption and the political weaponization of law enforcement and intelligence operations.

"During my tenure here as the Deputy Director of the FBI, I have repeatedly relayed to you that things are happening that might not be immediately visible, but they are happening," Bongino.

"The Director and I are committed to stamping out public corruption and the political weaponization of both law enforcement and intelligence operations," he continued. "It is a priority for us. But what I have learned in the course of our properly predicated and necessary investigations into these aforementioned matters, has shocked me down to my core. We cannot run a Republic like this. I’ll never be the same after learning what I’ve learned."

Bongino concluded, "We are going to conduct these righteous and proper investigations by the book and in accordance with the law. We are going to get the answers WE ALL DESERVE. As with any investigation, I cannot predict where it will land, but I can promise you an honest and dignified effort at truth. Not 'my truth,' or 'your truth,' but THE TRUTH. God bless America, and all those who defend Her."

The deputy director has been at odds with other administration members, particularly Attorney General Pam Bondi, over the handling of the Epstein files investigation. This has led to speculation about his future with the FBI, with reports indicating that President Donald Trump was furious with him 

The Trump administration has started investigating and uncovering past treasonous effort by the Obama administration to undermine then incoming president-elect Trump. These revelations are part of a broader context which makes Bongino's social media post ominous.

There are also increasing calls to release the Jeffrey Epstein files, which have been a source of controversy and speculation about cover-up which many Trump supporters blame on AG Bondi.

Bongino's post suggests that the FBI is conducting investigations into these matters, although the specifics remain unclear.