November 21, 2024 at 10:40 AM GST updated: November 21, 2024 at 10:15 AM 2 mins read News FINMA flags rising crypto money laundering risks, urging stronger oversight and risk management measures. Stablecoins increasingly misused for sanctions evasion, complicating anti-money laundering enforcement efforts. The Swiss crypto sector faces legal, reputational risks without robust compliance and…
Este artículo también está disponible en español. Larry Dean Harmon of Ohio was officially sentenced Friday for running the darknet crypto mixer Helix over allegations that he had processed over $300 million worth of crypto tokens from 2014 to 2017. Related Reading Harmon gets a three-year sentence, in addition to forfeiture of assets up to…
🚀 Stay Ahead with AltcoinDaily.co! 🌐 A Chinese dual citizen, Daren Li, recently pleaded guilty to money laundering millions of dollars linked to various crypto investment scams in the United States, marking a milestone in the Justice Department’s ongoing battle against international crypto fraud. Crypto Money Laundering Scheme Exposed According to a plea agreement filed…
US federal penalized Roman Sterlingov with prison and a ‘forfeiture money judgment’ for Bitcoin laundering. The convict headed operations of the darknet mixer for over a decade, starting in 2011. The Washington D.C. court sentenced Roman Sterlingov — founder of Bitcoin Fog, the “darknet’s longest-running cryptocurrency mixer” — to 12 years and 6 months for…
A 16-year-old boy from East London is facing multiple terrorism charges for allegedly attempting to raise cryptocurrency for Al Qaeda. Prosecutors claim that the teenager offered his skills in digital currency and cybersecurity to aid the terrorist organization. Suspect Pleads Not Guilty to Charges The teenager, who cannot be named due to his age, has…
Maximiliano Pilipis, a 53-year-old former resident of Noblesville, Indiana, has been indicted by a federal grand jury on five counts of money laundering and two counts of failing to file a tax return. The indictment alleges that Pilipis laundered substantial funds, including proceeds from Silk Road, through his operation of an unlicensed virtual currency exchange…
The Japanese National Police Agency’s Cyber Special Investigation Division announced the arrest of a suspect accused of money laundering, computer fraud, and credit card phishing crimes. Japanese authorities disclosed that they identified the suspect by analyzing his operations on Monero, a highly private and confidential blockchain. Japanese Police Allegedly Catch Money Laundering Ringleader Using Monero…
Nigeria has dropped money laundering charges against Binance exec. Gambaryan will seek medical treatment abroad after being detained since February. Nigeria has withdrawn money laundering charges against Tigran Gambaryan, an executive at Binance. This decision comes as Gambaryan seeks medical treatment abroad, according to the government’s lawyer. The announcement occurred during a court session at…
Tigran Gambaryan and Binance have been accused of laundering more than $35 million Nadeem Anjarwalla, a colleague of Gambaryan, was also detained, but managed to escape on a Middle Eastern airline in March The Nigerian government has dropped all charges against a Binance executive who had been detained in the country since February. Tigran Gambaryan,…
The Nigerian government has dropped money laundering charges against jailed Binance executive and former U.S. Federal agent Tigran Gambaryan. The Binance executive’s lawyer said the charges were dropped after the court determined that Gambaryan was merely an employee and could not be prosecuted for crimes allegedly committed by his employer. This decision follows months of…
Bollywood actress Tamannaah Bhatia is reportedly under investigation by India’s Enforcement Directorate (ED) for her alleged role in promoting the “HPZ Token” platform, which is accused of defrauding investors through cryptocurrency schemes. Authorities are probing her potential endorsement of the scam and her promotion of illegal betting-linked IPL content. Bhatia’s involvement remains unclear, but the…
A North Carolina man has been indicted for allegedly laundering more than $380,000 in a wire fraud scheme, according to the Department of Justice. The suspect is accused of moving illicit funds through payment platforms and cryptocurrency exchanges, transferring over $240,000 to crypto addresses. The money laundering conspiracy charge could result in a 20-year prison…
TD Bank, one of the largest financial institutions in the U.S., has agreed to pay a record $3 billion penalty, the largest ever under the Bank Secrecy Act, after pleading guilty to felony charges. The bank is the largest in U.S. history to plead guilty to Bank Secrecy Act program failures and the first to…
Nigerian court denies bail for Tigran Gambaryan due to money laundering charges. Court prioritizes serious allegations over health concerns. A Nigerian court denied bail to Tigran Gambaryan, Binance’s Compliance Chief, despite his worsening health condition.The decision was handed down on October 11, 2024, following Gambaryan’s second bail plea. His legal team highlighted his medical condition,…
The Brazilian Federal Police launched Operation Alcacaria this Wednesday, aiming to thwart the action of a network focused on providing money laundering services using cryptocurrency. The operation involved 62 search warrants, 13 arrest warrants, and the seizure of funds of the involved entities in banks. Brazilian Authorities Execute Operation Alcacaria Against Crypto Money Laundering Actors…
The Nigerian Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) vows to crack down on fraud, money laundering, and market manipulation in the crypto sector. The SEC director general, Emomotimi Agama, emphasized the importance of educating investors. Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu said he supports regulating the crypto sector. Investor Education Nigeria’s securities regulator vows to crack down…
New York’s financial regulator has a job opening for a Virtual Currency Senior Blockchain Analytics Analyst. The permanent position focuses on preventing financial crimes such as money laundering and fraud by ensuring compliance in the growing virtual currency sector. The role involves using blockchain analytics to monitor risks. Applications are due by Oct. 14. New…
October 6, 2024 at 10:37 AM GST 2 mins read News Tornado Cash developer Roman Storm thanked Vitalik Buterin for his $240,000 donation to his legal defense fund. Vitalik Buterin’s third donation supports Roman Storm as he faces serious charges linked to Tornado Cash. The legal fund for Roman Storm has raised over $785,000 as…
A 21-year-old from Indiana has pleaded guilty to cyber intrusion and cryptocurrency theft in a massive scheme targeting hundreds of victims. His actions involved stealing personal data and cryptocurrency worth over $37 million, with law enforcement crediting significant investigative efforts for his capture. FBI Cracks Global Cryptocurrency Theft Network The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ)…
A 21-year-old man from Lebanon, Indiana, has admitted to organizing a major cryptocurrency theft, stealing over $37 million from nearly 600 victims worldwide. Evan Frederick Light appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Veronica Duffy on September 30, 2024, where he pleaded guilty to Conspiracy to Commit Wire Fraud and Conspiracy to Launder Monetary Instruments. The Cyber…
Olumide Osunkoya has pleaded guilty to illegally running a crypto ATM network across the UK. Even though the UK Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) denied his registration, his operation handled millions in cryptocurrency transactions. This case represents the first conviction of its type under the UK’s anti-money laundering laws. UK’s First Illegal Crypto ATM Conviction Unveiled…
U.S. authorities have charged Russian citizens Sergey Sergeevich Ivanov and Timur Shakhmametov for allegedly operating a cryptocurrency money laundering service tied to Russian cybercrime. The U.S. Department of State has issued a $10 million bounty for information leading to the arrest or conviction of each. International Crackdown on Russian Cybercrime The United States Treasury, in…
September 28, 2024 at 03:45 AM GST updated: September 28, 2024 at 05:21 AM 2 mins read News US and international forces seize over $1 billion in crypto from Russian money laundering networks. Rewards up to $20 million offered for capture of Russian cybercriminals Sergey Ivanov and Timur Shakhmametov. U.S. indicts Russians for laundering billions…
Tether, the world’s largest stablecoin issuer, reportedly played a crucial role in a joint operation led by Dutch and U.S. law enforcement agencies to dismantle two cryptocurrency exchanges suspected of money laundering. The operation resulted in the seizure of €7 million ($7.8M) in crypto and the freezing of illicit wallets. Tether Works With Law Enforcement…
Roman Storm, a software developer of Tornado Cash, is headed to trial after a New York judge ruled against his motion to dismiss criminal charges. District Judge Katherine Polk Failla rejected Storm’s request to drop charges tied to money laundering and sanctions violations. Russian co-defendant Roman Semenov remains elusive and on the run, evading capture…
September 27, 2024 at 01:30 PM GST updated: September 27, 2024 at 12:13 PM 2 mins read News Roman Storm’s trial for Tornado Cash-related money laundering will begin on December 2 in New York. A federal judge rejected Storm’s defense that Tornado Cash development was protected by the First Amendment. Hackers recently laundered $27M and…
On Tuesday, Sept. 24, 2024, Caroline Ellison, the former CEO of Alameda Research, was sentenced to 24 months in prison after admitting to her involvement in several crimes. The courtroom banned cameras, video, and phone recordings during the sentencing. Even though the judge commended her in court, saying, “I’ve seen a lot of cooperators in…
India has achieved a high level of technical compliance with Financial Action Task Force (FATF) standards, addressing illicit finance, money laundering, and terrorist financing. In a joint assessment with regional bodies, the FATF praised India’s progress but pointed out areas needing improvement, especially in regulating the non-financial sector and virtual asset providers. The country was…
Chinese authorities’ recent actions to define crypto as a money laundering tool could influence the performance of its billion-dollar gaming industry. SCMP’s Hugh Harsono argues that these measures may affect games like Metacene, which has introduced cryptocurrencies as in-game currency. In addition, games that include play-to-earn components and non-fungible tokens (NFTs) could also be impacted…
A Denver resident has been convicted of running an illegal gambling business involving several parlors across Colorado. The scheme involved electronic games and a fake cryptocurrency to conceal the exchange of credits for cash, revealing fraud and money laundering. The only function of this crypto “was to be exchanged for cash at an ATM-like ‘cryptocurrency…
Welcome to Latam Insights, a compendium of Latin America’s most relevant crypto and economic news from the past week. In this issue, Brazilian police dismantle $9.7 billion crypto laundering rings, Brazil uses an artificial intelligence (AI) tool to detect tax fraud linked to cryptocurrency, and Latam’s neobank Nubank halts trading of its coin. Operation Niflheim:…
China is moving to update its legislation to tackle new money and cryptocurrency money laundering crimes. The Chinese Congress is set to introduce new money laundering concepts in the second review of the money laundering law draft revision, which will establish additional requirements for monitoring tech-related new money laundering risks. China to Address Crypto Money…
The Brazilian Federal Police dismantled an operation that used crypto to launder money from criminal sources, sending it abroad. Operation Niflheim involved the issuance of eight arrest warrants and 19 search and seizure orders against these groups that operated in Caxias do Sul, Sao Paulo, Fortaleza, and Brasilia. The criminals laundered over $9 billion since…
Ripple Labs’ Chief Legal Officer, Stuart Alderoty, has slammed U.S. regulators for unfairly targeting the cryptocurrency industry in money laundering investigations while allowing traditional banks to slip under the radar. In a recent X post, Alderoty pointed to the New York Federal Reserve’s reported role in enabling large-scale illicit transfers, including those tied to terrorist…
Web3 security firm Cyvers detected suspicious transactions on Indonesian exchange Indodax’s wallets on September 11th. The attack involved over 150 transactions and digital assets worth an estimated $20.58 million are believed to have been stolen. Some experts suspect the North Korean hacking group Lazarus Group may be responsible due to attack characteristics. Indodax Hack Shows…
Singapore’s Deputy Prime Minister Gan Kim Yong addressed concerns in Parliament regarding the risks of Worldcoin’s operations in Singapore, including potential money laundering through the sale of accounts. He emphasized that although Worldcoin does not perform a payment service under current laws, buying or selling accounts may constitute a violation. Investigations are ongoing, and the…
The UK’s Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) has charged Olumide Osunkoya for operating unregistered crypto ATMs in the country. This case is significant as it represents the first prosecution under UK law for such activities. Osunkoya is accused of running a network of crypto ATMs that processed £2.6 million in transactions without registration, violating anti-money laundering…
A law professor at the East China University of Political Science and Law has highlighted the urgent need for China to standardize procedures for recovering illicit digital assets due to a rise in cryptocurrency-related crimes. He stressed the lack of uniform standards complicates asset recovery and urged for comprehensive guidelines and international cooperation to manage…
A London resident has become the first person in the UK to be charged with operating a Bitcoin ATM without proper registration. Habibur Rahman, 37, of Langdon Crescent, East Ham, was arrested on April 28, 2023, following a raid by Kent Police at a gadget shop in Chatham. Medway Trader Faces Charges for Laundering £300,000…
In a concerning trend, TRM Labs found that illicit activity at crypto ATMs is significantly higher than in the broader crypto industry. This has prompted law enforcement and regulators across the world to leverage blockchain intelligence to investigate fraud and financial crime involving these machines. Increasing Illicit Activity at Crypto ATMs According to the latest…
A Washington resident has been charged with involvement in a $64 million cryptocurrency laundering scheme. He allegedly deceived investors, posing as an escrow agent, and transferred funds into his accounts. The funds were moved offshore or converted to cryptocurrencies such as bitcoin and ethereum via exchanges like Gemini, Bitstamp, Coinbase, and Binance. Investigators traced the…
Telegram’s founder and CEO, Pavel Durov, is still in hot water in France, facing multiple criminal charges linked to activities on his messaging platform. The French court reportedly set his bail at €5 million, and he’s now prohibited from leaving the country. French Authorities Charge Telegram CEO Durov After Durov was taken into custody last…
A Russian cybercriminal, Deniss Zolotarjovs, has been charged in the U.S. with crimes related to his involvement in a cybercrime organization known for extorting victims and laundering cryptocurrency. The 33-year-old Moscow resident was indicted in Cincinnati, Ohio, on charges of conspiracy to commit money laundering, wire fraud, and Hobbs Act extortion. Arrested in Georgia in…
A Rhode Island resident has pleaded guilty to money laundering conspiracy linked to an international drug trafficking ring. The operation laundered over $25 million using cryptocurrency, with Villa directly involved in converting cash into crypto. Villa faces up to 20 years in prison and a significant fine. Rhode Island Man Pleads Guilty in $25 Million…
Germany’s Federal Financial Supervisory Authority (BaFin) has seized 13 unauthorized cryptocurrency ATMs in a nationwide operation involving 60 officers and raids on 35 locations. BaFin reported that the machines facilitated illegal transactions and posed money laundering risks. Under German law, trading currencies, including cryptocurrencies, without proper authorization is illegal, with violators facing up to five…
The Supreme People’s Court of China, the highest court of law in the country, and the Supreme People’s Procuratorate have issued a joint document that interprets the current money laundering law and defines several issues related to its application. In this interpretation, the two organizations list virtual asset transactions as one of the tools available…
Roman Sterlingov is facing a potential 30-year prison sentence for BTC Fog’s money laundering charges. Sterlingov’s lawyers argue that the recommended sentence is excessive compared to similar cases. Roman Sterlingov, the founder of Bitcoin Fog, a cryptocurrency mixer is challenging a potential 30-year prison sentence. It was followed by his conviction on multiple money laundering…