Interpol has issued a Red Notice for Richard Schueler, also known as Richard Heart, founder of the Hex cryptocurrency. The notice stems from allegations of tax fraud and physical assault, marking the latest chapter in a series of legal battles surrounding the controversial crypto figure.
Allegations of Assault and Tax Evasion
Finnish authorities are pursuing Richard Schueler for allegedly assaulting a 16-year-old and evading taxes over a four-year period, from June 2020 to April 2024. The European most-wanted fugitives list claims that Schueler physically attacked the minor by dragging them by their hair, knocking them to the ground in a stairwell.
The Red Notice, issued globally, does not constitute an international arrest warrant but enables law enforcement to locate and provisionally detain Schueler. This development comes three months after Finnish authorities initially issued a remand order on September 13.
Detective Harri Saaristola of Helsinki Police disclosed to Finnish broadcaster Yle that discrepancies in Schueler’s reported income raised red flags. Despite the allegations, Richard Schueler has remained publicly silent on the matter, continuing his social media activity with cryptic remarks. On December 21, he posted on X: “If the haters really wanted to get me down, they could raise more than the $27M I did for medical research.”
SEC Lawsuit Adds to Mounting Legal Pressure
Beyond the Interpol notice, Schueler is embroiled in a $1 billion lawsuit with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The regulator accuses him of conducting unregistered offerings of three cryptocurrencies: Hex, PulseChain (PLS), and PulseX (PSLX).
According to the SEC, Richard Schueler raised over $1 billion through these offerings, promoting them as a path to extraordinary wealth for investors. In August, Schueler sought to dismiss the lawsuit, but the SEC pushed back, asserting its authority to pursue the case.
The mounting legal challenges are casting a shadow over Schueler’s crypto ventures, which once garnered attention for their audacious promises of financial independence. However, critics have long questioned the legitimacy of Hex and its associated projects, further intensifying scrutiny.
