Two US Citizens Jailed in Scheme Aiding North Korean IT Workers

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Washington: Two American men have been sentenced to prison for their roles in a scheme that enabled North Korean operatives to secure remote IT jobs with US companies and funnel funds to the country’s weapons programs, the US Justice Department said Wednesday.

Kejia Wang, 42, was sentenced to nine years in prison after pleading guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud, money laundering, and identity theft. Zhenxing Wang, 39, received a 92-month sentence after admitting to conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud, as well as money laundering.

The two men, both US citizens from New Jersey, were involved in a “laptop farms” operation that allowed overseas individuals to remotely access US-based computers while posing as domestic workers.

According to the Justice Department, more than 100 US companies were targeted, including several Fortune 500 firms and a defense contractor.

“The ruse placed North Korean IT workers on the payrolls of unwitting US companies and in US computer systems, thereby potentially harming our national security,” said John Eisenberg.

Kejia Wang acted as the US-based manager of the scheme between 2021 and 2024, overseeing at least five individuals who hosted hundreds of computers in their homes. Zhenxing Wang facilitated remote access by connecting laptops to hardware devices, enabling overseas workers to log in undetected.

The two were charged in June 2025 along with eight other suspects believed to be outside the United States, who remain at large.

“This case exposes a sophisticated scheme that exploited stolen American identities and US companies to generate millions of dollars for a hostile foreign regime,” said Leah Foley.

Authorities said such operations have generated millions of dollars annually for North Korea, helping fund its defense ministry and weapons development programs.