The Justice Department said on Friday that it arrested two alleged scammers for laundering “at least” $73 million through shell companies connected to “pig butchering” cryptocurrency investment schemes.

In a pig butchering scam, scammers contact victims online and gain their trust before manipulating them into investing in a fake cryptocurrency.

Daren Li, a 41-year-old dual citizen of China and St. Kitts and Nevis — and resides in China, Cambodia, and the United Arab Emirates, was arrested on April 12 at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport. According to a Justice Department statement, he was subsequently transported to the Central District of California. Yicheng Zhang, 38, a Chinese national and resident of Temple City, California, was arrested on Thursday in Los Angeles, California, the statement said.

The DOJ accused the individuals of having lured victims into depositing money into U.S. accounts. From there, the two allegedly utilized co-conspirators to launder the money through U.S. financial institutions to Bahamas bank accounts, before converting the funds into the stablecoin Tether, also known as USDT.

“Cryptocurrency investment scams exploit the borderless nature of virtual currency and online communications to defraud victims,” said U.S. Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco. “While fraud in the crypto markets takes on many forms and hides in many far-off places, its perpetrators aren’t beyond the law’s reach,” the

Li and Zhang face charges of conspiracy to commit money laundering and six counts of international money laundering. According to the Justice Department, if found guilty, they could be sentenced to a maximum of 20 years in prison for each count.

Two days before announcing the arrests, the Justice Department said it arrested two brothers for allegedly stealing roughly “$25 million worth of cryptocurrency within approximately 12 seconds.” And earlier this month, the department charged ‘Bitcoin Jesus’, a.k.a. Roger Ver, with evading nearly $50 million in taxes.

In what U.S. prosecutors are calling the first case of its kind, a pair of brothers have been charged with stealing $25 million worth of cryptocurrency in just 12 seconds. They’re now charged with wire fraud and money laundering for the April 2023 heist.

Anton Peraire-Bueno, 24, and James Peraire-Bueno, 28, were reportedly educated at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in mathematics and computer science. Using the skills they learned at MIT, prosecutors say the duo found a way to exploit the Ethereum transaction validation process.

Coingape’s “Voice of Web3” is an inaugural event that is set to attract over 1000 crypto leaders and enthusiasts in late June. The conference intends to have conversations with participants so that they understand how blockchain and cryptocurrency can democratize India’s policy, financial services, and business sectors. It further seeks to encourage mass adoption by bringing together the tech, startup, and developer communities. The event has multiple tracks for everyone, such as a session on future innovations, the evolution of money, business transformation, or even “Crypto 101.”.

Mark your calendar for the last week of June as Coingape brings to you Voice of Web3. This will be a one-stop stage for all things cryptoeconomic, and by this, it means that there is no going back. With the rapid expansion in the realm of cryptocurrencies in the dynamic landscape of digital finance, this event stands out as an icon for enlightenment and inventive ideas.

Why Should You Attend Voice of Web3?

With Crypto leading the pack at the beginning of the ‘financial internet’, Voice of Web3 plans to bring together more than 1,000 crypto leaders, thinkers, and investors under one virtual podium. This gathering will give room for discussing India’s crypto economy, from first principles to difficult policy conversations.

Whoever you are and whatever your work entails, Voice of Web3 summons you towards a better understanding and design of future finance trends. The tailor-made event suits experienced professional traders, regulators swimming amid policy frameworks, venture capitalists looking for breakthroughs, and corporate leaders looking forward to growth opportunities elsewhere.

What’s on Offer at Voice of Web3

The Voice of Web3 event is designed to be an immersive experience with four distinct tracks that are built for various interests and expertise levels found within the crypto and blockchain industry. Here’s a look at each of the tracks that await attendees.

• Future: This track looks at crypto and blockchain innovations and trends that may disrupt businesses and economies, talking about future money in a DeFi world or the rise of creator economies as well as DAOs.
• Money: Decoding the DeFi landscape, what it means for the future of money as well as central bank digital currencies (CBDC), implications of tokenization physical assets.
• Business: For your business transformation involving cryptocurrency, discuss navigating regulations, financing crypto projects, NFTs for gaming, and the creator economy.
• Crypto 101: This track is meant for beginners who know nothing about cryptocurrencies, providing a primer on the basics such as tokens, protocols, or important concepts, i.e., DeFi lending and threatening strategies.

Coingape’s Voice of Web3 is expected to become a significant turning point that will close the gap between the theory and practice of the cryptocurrency economy. This is an opportunity you can’t afford to miss out on; be part of the conversation that shapes the future of finance in India and beyond. Ensure your place at the forefront of the crypto revolution by registering today.

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