A 50-year-old woman from Arizona has been sentenced to over eight years in prison for operating a covert “laptop farm” that helped North Korean IT workers secure remote jobs at U.S. companies under false identities, generating over ₹142 crore ($17 million) for the Pyongyang regime.
Christina Marie Chapman of Litchfield Park was sentenced to 102 months by U.S. District Judge Randolph D. Moss in Washington, D.C., after pleading guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud, aggravated identity theft, and conspiracy to launder money.
300+ U.S. Companies Unwittingly Hired North Korean Workers
Between October 2020 and October 2023, Chapman collaborated with North Korean operatives who used stolen U.S. identities to pose as remote workers. She ran a setup at her home that involved dozens of laptops and devices sent by U.S. companies, creating the illusion that the work was being performed domestically.
The Justice Department reported that more than 300 U.S. companies were deceived, including a major television network, a Silicon Valley tech firm, an aerospace manufacturer, a luxury retail brand, and a U.S. media company. At least 68 Americans had their identities stolen in the scheme.
Chapman was paid approximately ₹1.48 crore ($176,850) for her role. The court has ordered her to repay this amount and to forfeit another ₹2.38 crore ($284,556) that had not yet been transferred to the North Korean handlers.
False Identities, Stolen Data, and Remote Access
Chapman helped the scheme by receiving and rerouting equipment, often to Dandong, China, near the North Korean border. She installed remote-access software on these machines, enabling overseas operatives to work as if they were in the U.S. She also used her name and personal details to access background check services that were later used to impersonate real U.S. citizens.
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The Justice Department described the operation as one that inflicted harm on American citizens and benefited a foreign adversary.
Her attorneys stated that she had experienced childhood abuse and turned to technology while caring for her ailing mother. Although aware of the illegality, she continued due to financial stability and her caregiver role. In court, she expressed remorse and gratitude toward the FBI, saying she had been trying to extricate herself from the operation.