Zhenya Tsvetnenko

From his base in Perth, Zhenya Tsvetnenko had built an innovative international business at the cutting edge of modern technology. He was a market leader in the development of mobile messaging services, specialising in the delivery of text alerts, and pioneered advertising on the Google content network.

With a strong international presence, including the US, Mr Tsvetnenko pursued growth in new geographic markets while continuing to invest in R&D for new business opportunities. He also established an event production company with his business partner, to raise money for charities.

In December 2018, Mr Tsvetnenko was arrested following an extradition arrest warrant relating to his alleged involvement in a multimillion-dollar text-messaging scam across the US in 2016, with conspiracy to commit wire fraud, aggravated identity theft and conspiracy to commit money laundering. In January 2019, he was denied bail and appeared at an extradition hearing in April. In June 2022, Mr Tsvetnenko was sentenced to eight years in a federal US prison for his role in the multi-million-dollar text messaging scam.