A new -Zeeland man has been arrested because they have arrested part of an international criminal organization that has stolen $ 265 million in Crypto assets of seven people.
In a new press release, authorities claim that the nameless Wellington -man has participated in a scheme that fraudulently obtained the crypto assets by manipulating victims between March and August 2024.
The US Department of Justice (DOJ) has accused the individual of racketeering, conspiracy to commit wire fraud and conspiracy to carry out money laundering.
Twelve other people are confronted with charges in connection with the case, including people from Auckland and California.
According to public prosecutors, the defendants have laundered the proceeds from the scheme by various cryptocurrency exchanges before they spend the money to buy luxury items such as handbags, clothing, cars, watches, private security, rental properties and expensive nightclubtertainment.
The other members of the group were also recently arrested and charged by the Doj. According to earlier reports, the organization had a team behind those consisting of hackers, callers, organizers, money laundering and residential burglars. The team is already active in October 2023.
Last year two members of the group, Malone Lam and Jeandiel Serrano, were arrested and charged in connection with a conspiracy that reportedly saw them steal $ 230 million in the crypto of a victim and then try to whiten the money with the help of advanced methods.
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