Overview

• Knoot, 38, operated a 'laptop farm' from his Nashville residence, allowing North Koreans to appear as US-based workers.
• The scheme funneled hundreds of thousands of dollars to North Korea's weapons programs, including weapons of mass destruction.
• Knoot faces multiple charges, including wire fraud, identity theft, and conspiracy to launder money, with a potential 20-year prison sentence.
• Authorities discovered the scheme after suspicious activities were detected on company-issued laptops sent to Knoot's residence.
• This case highlights ongoing efforts by North Korean IT workers to circumvent international sanctions and fund the regime's military ambitions.