Accused Bitfinex Launderer Heather Morgan Might Be Offered a Plea Deal

2 years ago

One of the alleged Bitfinex wealth launderers mightiness soon beryllium offered a plea woody that could spot her debar the spectacle of a nationalist trial.

During her virtual arraignment connected Monday afternoon, prosecutors told Magistrate Judge Robin Meriweather of the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia they were successful talks with Heather Morgan’s attorneys astir a imaginable “resolution” to her lawsuit that did not see a trial.

Morgan, on with her hubby Ilya “Dutch” Lichtenstein, has been accused of laundering the proceeds of the 2016 Bitfinex hack. The sum is valued astatine astir $5 cardinal today.

Though prosecutors person accused some Morgan and Lichtenstein of being progressive successful the conspiracy to launder funds, determination appears to beryllium little nonstop grounds connecting Morgan to the crime.

The backstage keys to the wallet containing $3.6 cardinal worthy of the stolen funds, which was seized by national agents earlier this month, were recovered connected Lichtenstein’s unreality account. Lichtenstein, a dual U.S.-Russian citizen, besides possessed falsified individuality documents the authorities says indicates the mates was preparing to flee the country to Russia oregon Ukraine.

Morgan and Lichtenstein were arrested connected Feb. 8 astatine their New York apartment. Lichtenstein was denied bail and remains successful jail. Morgan, however, was allowed to station a $3 cardinal enslaved (including the worth of her parents’ Northern California home) and is nether location apprehension astatine the couple’s apartment.

CNBC reported that Morgan was precocious diagnosed with COVID-19. Morgan’s lengthy aesculapian history, including caller bosom surgery, asthma and endometriosis, was besides a cardinal origin successful Judge Meriweather’s determination to allow her to permission national custody connected bond.

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Cheyenne Ligon is simply a CoinDesk quality newsman with a absorption connected crypto regularisation and policy. She has nary important crypto holdings.


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