Gery Shalon: From Financial Hacker to Transatlantic Crime Boss
Gery Shalon, born in Georgia and holding Israeli citizenship, is widely known under several aliases including Gabriel Shalelashvili, Garri Shalelashvili, Gabi, Phillipe Mousset, and Christopher Engeham. He is the son of Georgian businessman and former MP Shota Shalelashvili. According to the U.S. Department of Justice (DoJ press release), Shalon is considered the mastermind behind the largest financial cyberattack in U.S. history, specifically the 2014 JP Morgan hack.
In July 2015, Shalon was arrested in Israel and later extradited to the United States, where he currently resides under a form of house arrest, awaiting trial. Reports suggest he is cooperating with U.S. authorities in matters involving Russia, potentially seeking a reduced sentence in exchange for intelligence.
Despite Cooperation: Shalon Still Active in Cybercrime
While supposedly assisting U.S. investigators, Gery “Gabi” Shalon has allegedly continued orchestrating elements of his global cybercrime network. Most notably, court records from the Vienna Cybercrime Trials (#VCT) identify him as the ultimate controller behind Gal Barak and his criminal enterprise E&G Bulgaria.
In September 2020, Gal Barak was sentenced to four years in prison for investment fraud and money laundering, based on evidence collected by Austrian prosecutors. Internal records from the #VCT reveal that Barak operated under the direct supervision of Shalon. His close Russian associate Vladislav Smirnov is also implicated.
Documented Digital Trail
The files presented in the Vienna proceedings contain extensive documentation of communications between Shalon, Barak, and other key players. Authorities have gathered a wealth of data including:
-
Email exchanges
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WhatsApp messages
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Phone conversations
This digital trail establishes Shalon’s leadership role in the E&G Bulgaria network beyond reasonable doubt.
Financial Trail: Offshore Companies and Fraud Proceeds
One of the more striking findings from the #VCT documentation involves the use of offshore companies to obscure illicit proceeds. Bank statements linked to Shalon confirm that he pocketed millions of euros by funneling fraudulent revenues through entities registered in secrecy jurisdictions.
Example of Involved Entity:
|
Company Name |
Jurisdiction |
Role in Operation |
|
Seagulf Ltd |
Offshore (unknown) |
Vehicle for fraud proceeds |
What raises further concern is Shalon’s consistent use of Russian-based communication tools, including email accounts and mobile numbers, to coordinate these operations—an ironic choice given his alleged cooperation with U.S. law enforcement in cyber matters related to Russia.
Key Individuals and Entities
|
Name |
Role |
Status |
|
Gery Shalon |
Alleged mastermind |
Awaiting trial in the U.S. |
|
Gal Barak |
Fraud operator (E&G Bulgaria) |
Sentenced (Austria, 2020) |
|
Vladislav Smirnov |
Associate of Shalon |
Under investigation |
|
Seagulf Ltd |
Offshore shell company |
Used for laundering fraud proceeds |
|
Shota Shalelashvili |
Former Georgian MP, Shalon’s father |
Not implicated |
Final Thoughts
While Gal Barak and other frontline operatives have faced sentencing, Gery Shalon, the alleged architect of both the JP Morgan hack and the E&G Bulgaria scam, continues to evade final judgment. Whether U.S. authorities will expand their scrutiny to include Shalon’s ongoing activities—as revealed in the Vienna Cybercrime Trials—remains to be seen.
Scam-Or Project will continue to monitor and report on the evolving legal developments tied to Shalon, Barak, and their broader network of international fraud.