(CNN) Federal prosecutors charged a Russian man who allegedly worked as a manager in the Russian government's US-election interference efforts with conspiracy to steal the identities of Americans to open bank and cryptocurrency accounts. The charges announced Thursday in federal court in Alexandria, Virginia, against Artem Mikhaylovich Lifshits, 27, of St. Petersburg, Russia, were part of the US government's public response against Russians who the US says are involved in the Russian election interference operation. The project concealed its work through groups such as the Internet Research Agency, whose members were charged with crimes by special counsel Robert Mueller. Lifshits allegedly worked as a manager for the Translator Department, which was responsible for much of the Russian project's ongoing influence operations, according to Justice Department prosecutors. Lifshits is believed to be in Russia and CNN couldn't locate him to seek comment.

Source: CNN September 10, 2020 20:48 UTC