US DoJ charged two men with stealing and laundering $230 Million worth of cryptocurrency
September 20, 2024
The US DoJ arrested two people and charged them with stealing and laundering more than $230 million worth of cryptocurrency.
The U.S. DoJ arrested two people, Malone Lam (20) (aka “Greavys,” “Anne Hathaway,” and “$$$”) and Jeandiel Serrano (21) (aka “Box,” “VersaceGod,” and “@SkidStar”) in Miami and charged them with stealing more than $230 million worth of cryptocurrency.
The duo attempted to launder the stolen cryptocurrency through crypto exchanges and mixing services.
“According in the indictment, since at least August 2024, Lam, Serrano, and others conspired to carry out cryptocurrency thefts and to launder the stolen crypto currency through exchanges and mixing services. The conspirators would fraudulently gain access to victim cryptocurrency accounts and then transfer victim funds into their possession.” reads the DoJ’s press release. “They laundered the proceeds, including by moving the funds through various mixers and exchanges using “peel chains,” pass-through wallets, and virtual private networks (VPNs) to mask their true identities.”
According to court documents, on August 18, the two men stole more than 4,100 Bitcoin (worth $230 million at the time) from a victim in Washington, D.C..
Lam and Serrano allegedly used the laundered cryptocurrency proceeds to fund international travel, buy luxury cars, watches, jewelry, designer handbags, and rent homes in Los Angeles and Miami.
Lam, Serrano, and others allegedly hacked victims’ cryptocurrency accounts, transferring the stolen funds to wallets under their control. Then laundered the stolen funds through various mixers and exchanges using “peel chains,” pass-through wallets, and virtual private networks (VPNs) to mask their true identities.
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Pierluigi Paganini
(SecurityAffairs – hacking, US DoJ)