Litchfield Park woman arrested, alleged IT scheme benefitting communist weapons programs

Litchfield Park resident Christina Marie Chapman was arrested May 15  for allegedly participating in schemes to place overseas information technology (IT) workers—posing as U.S. citizens and residents—in remote positions at U.S. companies for individuals associated with communist North Korean officials.

The indictment alleges that Chapman worked with North Korea to dispatch thousands of IT workers around the world, using stolen or borrowed U.S. persons’ identities to pose as domestic workers, with the intent of infiltrating domestic companies to siphon revenue.

Chapman hosted the laptops at her residences, logging into the U.S. companies’ networks, sometimes daily, and permitting the coconspirators and overseas IT workers to connect remotely to them.

According to the indictment, Chapman also received paychecks for the overseas IT workers, forged the signatures on the checks, and deposited them in her banks. She then transferred the scheme's proceeds to the associated workers. In exchange, Chapman charged a monthly fee for her services.

According to the  U.S. Department of Justice, revenue raised went directly toward the communist country’s weapons program.

“These IT workers are often subordinate to North Korea’s Munitions Industry Department ('MID'),” wrote the DOJ. “MID is involved in key aspects of North Korea’s weapons program, including overseeing the development of North Korea’s ballistic missiles, weapons production, and research and development programs.”

According to the complaint, the scheme generated at least $6.8 million in revenue for benefactors and included malicious infiltrations into “an aerospace and defense manufacturer” among other notable national companies.

Workers also unsuccessfully attempted to access information at the DHS Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency and another unnamed U.S. Government Agency located in the District of Columbia.

Chapman was named with three other co-conspirators with Chinese, not Korean, last names, according to the complaint.

"Chunji Jin provided (Chapman) name, date of birth, and a Chinese National ID to U.S. MSTs to register for these (bank) accounts," the indictment states. "Jin received money generated through the conspiracy into these accounts, including from Chapman. Jin's name and address were also used by Chapman and other coconspirators to receive packages in China, including packages containing laptops for remote work at U.S. companies."

The schemes involved defrauding over 300 U.S. companies using U.S. payment platforms and online job site accounts, proxy computers in the United States, and witting and unwitting U.S. persons and entities.

According to the U.S. Department of Justice, this is the largest case ever charged by the DOJ involving this type of IT workers’ scheme.

It is not known if Chapman wittingly worked for North Korea's benefit.

 An indictment and a criminal complaint are merely allegations. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.