U.S. authorities have arrested a New Jersey man and searched tech equipment across 16 states in a major crackdown on a North Korean scheme using remote IT workers to fund its weapons program.

Prosecutors say North Koreans, aided by people in the U.S., China, and elsewhere, used fake identities to get jobs at over 100 U.S. companies, stealing sensitive data and funds.

One case involved theft of U.S. military tech; another saw $740,000 stolen from a Georgia tech firm, CNN has reported.

Several suspects remain at large, including four North Koreans accused of laundering over $900,000 in cryptocurrency.

Written by B.C. Begley