Silk Road Hacker Sentenced to a Year in Prison for Wire Fraud

On April 14, 2023, the Department of Justice (DOJ) for the Southern District of New York revealed that the hacker responsible for the Silk Road marketplace breach had been sentenced to a year in prison for wire fraud charges. James Zhong stole more than 50,000 bitcoin from the darknet marketplace (DNM) in September 2012. DOJ … Read more

Revised Bill Suggests Prison Time for Russian Crypto Miners Evading Taxation

A draft law designed to regulate crypto mining in Russia introduces harsh penalties for miners failing to report digital assets to the state. In its latest revision, the bill also threatens to punish those who organize illegal trading of cryptocurrencies with imprisonment and hefty fines. Forced Labor Awaits Miners and Traders Who Operate Outside Law, … Read more

Russian Court Sends 3 Crypto Robbers to Strict-Regime Prison

Three Russians are going to spend time in high-security prison for stealing over a million U.S. dollars’ worth of cryptocurrency from another man. In addition, the court has also ordered them to fully compensate the victim for the damages, prosecutors announced. Robbers Get Prison Sentence for Cryptocurrency Theft in Russia A court in the Russian … Read more

Report: FTX Co-Founder Bankman-Fried Plans to Surrender to US Extradition Request

Disgraced FTX co-founder Sam Bankman-Fried (SBF) has reportedly reversed his decision to contest his extradition to the United States. Bankman-Fried has spent close to five days in the Bahamas Department of Correctional Services (BDOCS) jail Fox Hill, an overcrowded prison known for being filthy and one that has been accused of prison maltreatment. Reuters Source … Read more

French Lawyer Asks Russian Patriarch to Help Save Alexander Vinnik From ‘Political Trial’ in US

A member of the defense team of the alleged BTC-e operator Alexander Vinnik has called on the head of the Russian Orthodox Church to intervene in support of his client. The Russian national may be sentenced to over 50 years in prison for his role in the infamous cryptocurrency exchange. Prisoner Swap for Americans in … Read more

Lawyer of Alleged Crypto Launderer Vinnik Calls on Russia to Talk Prisoner Swap With US

A lawyer representing Russian IT specialist Alexander Vinnik has urged the government in Moscow to discuss a potential exchange of prisoners with the United States, where he was recently extradited. The French legal expert is convinced only a return to his homeland could save Vinnik who has deteriorating health after solitary confinement in France and … Read more

Crypto Exchange BTC-e Operator Vinnik Reportedly Denied Bail in US, Maintains Innocence

Alexander Vinnik, the alleged owner and operator of the infamous cryptocurrency exchange BTC-e, has been found not eligible for release on bail in the United States, where he was recently transferred from Greece. The Russian, accused of large-scale money laundering through the now-defunct trading platform, and other crimes, rejects U.S. charges. Alexander Vinnik Remains in … Read more