California Man Arrested for Using Government’s Covid-19 PPP Loan to Buy Cryptocurrency and Tesla

The U.S. has arrested a man on criminal charges after he allegedly defrauded the government’s Covid-19 loan programs and used the money to buy cryptocurrency and Tesla. Using PPP Loan to Buy Cryptocurrency and Tesla The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) announced Friday that Lebnitz Tran was arrested Thursday “on criminal charges related to his … Read more

Creator of Video Downloading Websites Sentenced to Prison in US — Over $1 Million in Cryptocurrency Seized

The U.S. has sentenced a creator of video streaming and downloading websites to prison for 12 months and one day. The feds also seized $3.9 million from him, including more than $1 million in cryptocurrency. Man Sentenced to Jail for Copyright Infringement and Tax Evasion, His Cryptocurrency Seized The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) announced … Read more

US Sentences Crypto Fraudster to 15 Years in Prison After Duping Thousands of Investors

A Swedish man has been sentenced to 15 years in prison in the U.S. for an investment fraud scheme involving cryptocurrency, including bitcoin. He defrauded thousands of victims of more than $16 million. The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) announced Thursday that a “cryptocurrency fraudster” has been sentenced to 15 years in prison “for securities … Read more

Financial Watchdog FinCEN Recruits First-Ever Chief Digital Currency Advisor

Following the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) explaining the misuse of cryptocurrencies is a national priority last week, the bureau announced on Tuesday it hired its first-ever chief digital currency advisor. FinCEN’s acting director Michael Mosier detailed that Michele Korver will be the bureau’s new crypto expert and she brings “a wealth of digital currency … Read more

‘Doctor Bitcoin’ Pleads Guilty to Running Illegal Crypto Exchange in US, Faces 5 Years in Prison

A Texas man, who calls himself “Doctor Bitcoin,” has pleaded guilty to running an illegal cryptocurrency exchange business, converting cash to bitcoin. He faces five years in federal prison. Crypto Exchange Operator Pleads Guilty The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) announced Tuesday that a Texas resident, Mark Alexander Hopkins, has pleaded guilty to “illegally operating … Read more

DOJ Seeks Trial Attorney With Extensive Blockchain and Crypto Knowledge

The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) is seeking a trial attorney to help with the federal executive agency’s Digital Currency Initiative. The DOJ posted a job listing on the justice.gov web portal and the hired individual is expected to serve as an “expert on digital currency and blockchain technologies for the criminal division.” DOJ’s Money … Read more

Bitcoin Keys Cannot be Hacked: Skeptics Question the Official Colonial Pipeline Bitcoin Seizure Story

On June 7, the United States Justice Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) announced the “recovery” of 63.70 bitcoin from the funds Colonial Pipeline sent to the hackers. The official story has a number of inconsistencies and federal investigators did not disclose how the FBI was able to confiscate the Darkside gang’s private … Read more

FBI Agent Recovers Private Key to $2.3M in Bitcoin Paid to Colonial Pipeline Hackers

U.S. law enforcement officials from the Justice Department on Monday announced the seizure of $2.3 million dollars worth of crypto assets that were paid to the Colonial Pipeline hackers. Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco explained during a news conference that federal agents “recaptured the majority of the ransom Colonial paid to the Darkside network.” FBI … Read more