An Arizona woman has been sentenced to more than eight years in federal prison for her role in helping North Korean nationals illegally secure remote jobs at U.S. companies, funneling millions of dollars to the regime of Kim Jong Un in violation of U.S. sanctions.
Christina Marie Chapman, 50, of Litchfield Park, received a 102-month sentence on Thursday after pleading guilty earlier this year to conspiracy to commit wire fraud, aggravated identity theft, and conspiracy to launder money.
According to the U.S. Department of Justice, Chapman participated in a sophisticated scheme between October 2020 and October 2023 that allowed North Korean IT workers to pose as U.S. citizens to gain employment with more than 300 American companies. The operation generated over $17 million, much of which was funneled back to the North Korean government.
Chapman was paid $176,850 for her part in the scheme and has been ordered to repay that amount. She was also required to forfeit $284,556 in unpaid funds intended for North Korean operatives.
Her primary role involved operating a “laptop farm” — a setup in which she maintained dozens of computers and equipment sent by U.S. companies under the false belief that the work was being performed within the United States. In reality, Chapman allowed remote access to these systems from overseas, often forwarding hardware to locations near the China–North Korea border, including Dandong, China.
The Department of Justice revealed that at least 68 Americans had their identities stolen to facilitate the fraud. Companies affected included a top-five television network, a major Silicon Valley tech firm, a U.S. automaker, an aerospace manufacturer, a luxury retailer, and a major media and entertainment company.
Chapman also helped co-conspirators obtain sensitive personal information by registering with a background-check company using her name and debit card, enabling them to impersonate U.S. citizens. She also mailed fraudulent documents to support the false identities.
During sentencing, Chapman’s attorneys cited a history of severe childhood abuse and limited life skills. They said she had enrolled in a computer science boot camp while caring for her mother, who was battling cancer, and was drawn into the scheme shortly after.
Although she eventually realized the operation was illegal, she chose to remain involved because, for the first time, she was financially stable and able to care for her mother, who passed away in 2023.
In a letter to the court, Chapman expressed remorse, writing that she felt “deeply ashamed” and even thanked the FBI for removing her from the situation. “I had been trying to get away from the guys that I was working with for a while and wasn’t really sure how to do it,” she wrote, adding, “while this wasn’t the ideal way, I’m thankful I was pulled out.”
Matthew R. Galeotti, acting assistant attorney general for the DOJ’s Criminal Division, said Chapman’s decision came at a high cost.
“She made the wrong calculation: short-term personal gains that inflict harm on our citizens and support a foreign adversary.”
The case underscores growing concerns over North Korea’s use of cyber tactics and remote work to evade sanctions and finance its regime.
