America Lawyer’s Workplace for the Southern District of New York has introduced the sentencing for a person who pleaded responsible to wire fraud prices linked to “unlawfully obtained” Bitcoin from the Silk Highway market in 2012.
In an April 14 announcement, the U.S. Justice Division stated James Zhong was sentenced to at least one 12 months and someday in jail for prices associated to executing a scheme to steal greater than 51,680 Bitcoin (BTC). Zhong pleaded responsible to the costs in November 2022 and had been awaiting sentencing.
“Cyber-criminals ought to heed this message: we are going to observe the cash and maintain you accountable, irrespective of how refined your scheme and irrespective of how lengthy it takes,” stated U.S. Lawyer Damian Williams.
In accordance with Williams, Zhong stole the BTC in 2012 and managed to hide his crime for roughly 10 years earlier than dealing with prices. U.S. authorities seized the Bitcoin holdings from Zhong’s residence within the state of Georgia in November 2021, discovering the majority of the crypto in a ground secure and a pc hid in a popcorn tin. The cash have been value roughly $3.4 billion on the time.
Within the U.S. Lawyer’s sentencing memo for Silk Highway Bitcoin stealer James Zhong: investigators seized legal proceeds from “a single-board pc that was submerged underneath blankets in a popcorn tin saved in a rest room closet.” (Sentencing is immediately at 3 pm). pic.twitter.com/7aamQryQ6B
— Rachel Scharf (@rscharf_) April 14, 2023
Associated: US authorities plans to promote 41K Bitcoin linked to Silk Highway
The Silk Highway market, defunct for roughly 10 years, allowed customers to purchase and promote illicit items equivalent to weapons and stolen bank card data, drawing the eye of U.S. authorities. The creator of the platform, Ross Ulbricht, was arrested for his function in 2013 and is at the moment serving two life sentences with out the potential of parole.
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