$150M Crypto Scheme Leader Vanishes From US Detention, Active Manhunt Underway

A German national accused of orchestrating a $150 million cryptocurrency fraud is now a fugitive after allegedly tampering with his ankle monitor while on home detention in New York. Prosecutors say he led a multi-level marketing scheme, promising massive returns, before siphoning off millions in cryptocurrency and disappearing just before his trial. An active investigation … Read more

Texas Drug Ring Sentenced for Laundering $50K Monthly in Cryptocurrency

Six members of a Texas-based drug ring have been sentenced for their roles in a dark web drug operation, which laundered up to $50,000 per month in cryptocurrency. The group, operating as “Loverbois,” sold nearly 12 kilograms of meth. They processed about 20 drug orders daily between July 2019 and December 2020. Sentences ranged from … Read more

FBI Creates Crypto Token to Expose Fraud — Seizes $25M in Cryptocurrency, Charges 18

Eighteen individuals and entities have been charged with fraud and market manipulation in the cryptocurrency industry. The charges involve deceptive practices such as wash trading and pump-and-dump schemes that inflated token prices, resulting in the seizure of $25 million in cryptocurrency. As part of “Operation Token Mirrors,” the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) created a … Read more

FBI Seizes $6M in Crypto From Southeast Asian Scammers

U.S. authorities have seized over $6 million worth of cryptocurrency linked to a fraudulent investment scheme organized by Southeast Asian criminals. Targeting U.S. individuals, the criminals manipulated victims through fake cryptocurrency platforms. The Department of Justice (DOJ) and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) recovered the funds using blockchain tracing. DOJ Seizes $6 Million in … Read more

FBI Recovers $5 Million From Pig Butchering Crypto Scam

Authorities in North Carolina have seized nearly $5 million in cryptocurrency linked to an investment fraud scheme. The scheme, known as “pig butchering,” involved criminals creating fake romantic relationships to deceive victims into investing in fraudulent cryptocurrency platforms. Victims lost their life savings, with one losing an entire retirement account. $5 Million in Cryptocurrency Seized … Read more

SEC and CFTC Lawsuits Against Former FTX CEO Paused Until Criminal Proceedings Conclude

Two civil lawsuits, stemming from the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC), against former FTX CEO Sam Bankman-Fried will be paused until his criminal proceedings are complete. US Attorney Requests Pause on SEC and CFTC Lawsuits to Prevent ‘Judicial Overlap’ According to the latest decision by a New … Read more

Crypto Is Part of Free Speech, and Free Speech Is Everything

On July 23, U.S. Attorney General William Barr gave a speech demanding big players in the tech industry work with government agencies in providing backdoor entry points for encrypted devices and software. Per his reasoning, certain devices and messaging services pose a safety threat by providing a secure, third-party-inaccessible area where crime can rapidly proliferate. … Read more

Onecoin Leaders Indicted in the U.S. for Operating ‘Fraudulent Pyramid Scheme’

On March 8, the Department of Justice and the U.S. Attorney’s Office Southern District of New York (SDNY) announced that officials have indicted two of the top leaders of the notorious Onecoin project. The prosecutors charged Onecoin cofounders Konstantin Ignatov and Ruja Ignatova with a slew of charges in connection with defrauding investors. Konstantin Ignatov … Read more

ICE Agency Charges Payza and Two Canadian Citizens With Bitcoin Money Laundering

This week the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security agency (ICE) has revealed that it is charging two Canadian brothers and the company Payza with illegal money transmission and money laundering charges tethered to cryptocurrency transactions. Also read: ICO Trackers Are the New Gatekeepers of Crowdsales Money Transmitters are Required to Register With U.S. Federal … Read more