Aleksei Andriunin, a Russian nationwide charged with manipulating cryptocurrency by way of the Gotbit market maker platform, has reportedly struck a plea cope with prosecutors in america.
Gotbit founder and CEO Andriunin has agreed to forfeit about $23 million in Tether USDt (USDT) and Circle’s USDC (USDC) in a plea cope with Massachusetts federal prosecutors, the authorized information service Law360 reported on March 19.
As a part of the plea, Andriunin will plead responsible to 3 counts charging conspiracy to commit wire fraud and market manipulation, in keeping with the letter signed by the defendant on March 19.
An excerpt from letters within the Gotbix founder case associated to the $23 million forfeiture as a part of the plea with Massachusetts prosecutors: Law360
“Defendant understands and agrees that forfeiture shall not fulfill or have an effect on any high quality, lien, penalty, restitution, price of imprisonment, tax legal responsibility or another debt owed to america,” the letter reads.
The settlement doesn’t bind the US Legal professional Basic
Within the letter to the defendant, the US Legal professional for the District of Massachusetts, Leah Foley, careworn that the settlement to forfeit $23 million is simply between Andriunin and the lawyer.
“It doesn’t bind the Legal professional Basic of america or another federal, state, or native prosecuting authorities,” the letter reads.
The letter additionally states that the defendant acknowledges the court docket shouldn’t be obligated to stick to the sentencing calculations proposed by the Massachusetts lawyer.
An excerpt from authorized letters within the Gotbix founder case associated to sentencing tips with Massachusetts prosecutors: Law360
“Defendant might not withdraw defendant’s responsible plea if defendant disagrees with how the court docket calculates the rules or with the sentence the court docket imposes,” lawyer Foley wrote.
Andriunin was extradited to the US in October 2025
Gotbit founder’s cope with Massachusetts prosecutors got here months after Andriunin was extradited to the US in October 2024 after being arrested by Portuguese authorities.
Since extradition, Andriunin has appeared in a federal court docket in Boston, Massachusetts, the place he was ordered to stay detained till additional discover.
Andriunin, 26, was charged with wire fraud and conspiracy to commit market manipulation and wire fraud in a superseding indictment in October 2024.
Supply: Alex Andriunin
In accordance with Massachusetts court docket paperwork, Gotbit was a crypto “market maker” that orchestrated a “widespread cryptocurrency market manipulation scheme.” The platform was registered in Belize and was mentioned to offer synthetic buying and selling quantity for world companies, together with these within the US, between 2017 and 2024.
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Aside from Andriunin, the prison grievance from Massachusetts authorities in September 2024 additionally concerned different Gotbit staff, similar to advertising director Fedor Kedrov and gross sales director Qawi Jalili, each dwelling in Russia.
Within the plea letter, Massachusetts lawyer Foley talked about that the belongings listed within the forfeiture part of the Gotbit plea settlement are solely managed by the defendant on Gotbit’s behalf regardless of these belongings belonging to Gotbit.
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