OneCoin co-founder pleads guilty on fraud, money laundering charges

2 years ago

OneCoin laminitis Karl Sebastian Greenwood has been recovered blameworthy of aggregate charges, according to a statement from the U.S. Department of Justice connected Dec. 16.

Greenwood pled blameworthy to 1 number of conspiracy to perpetrate ligament fraud, 1 number of ligament fraud, and 1 number of conspiracy to perpetrate wealth laundering.

Each of those charges carries a maximum imaginable condemnation of 20 years successful prison. Greenwood’s existent condemnation volition beryllium determined by a justice successful April 2023.

Greenwood has been detained since July 2018, erstwhile helium was arrested successful Thailand. He was extradited to the U.S. to look charges successful October 2018.

OneCoin began to run retired of Bulgaria successful 2014, acting arsenic a multi-level selling strategy successful which members earned wealth by recruiting further investors. Despite attracting galore investors, OneCoin rapidly became infamous and gained a estimation arsenic a Ponzi strategy arsenic aboriginal arsenic 2016 arsenic it failed to wage investors.

The DOJ said contiguous that the OneCoin scam attracted investments from its victims amounting to much than $4 billion.

U.S. Attorney Damian Williams went connected to telephone the task “one of the largest planetary fraud schemes ever perpetrated. In a further statement, Williams added:

“Greenwood’s lies were designed with 1 goal, to get mundane radical … to portion with their hard-earned wealth … and to enactment his ain pockets to the tune of hundreds of millions of dollars.”

OneCoin was co-founded by “crypto queen” Ruja Ignatova, who has been astatine large since a warrant for her apprehension was issued successful October 2017.

The DOJ’s announcement contiguous explained that Greenwood and Ignatova deliberately defrauded investors by misrepresenting assorted aspects of OneCoin. In interior conversations, Ignatova adjacent referred to OneCoin arsenic a “trashy coin” and suggested that she and Greenwood “take the wealth and run.”

Greenwood and Ignatova are not the lone task associates to look trial. OneCoin situation manager Frank Schneider was charged earlier this period and present faces trial.

Christopher Hamilton and Robert McDonald, who allegedly helped the task launder funds, besides look charges. The latest developments successful those cases occurred successful August.

The station OneCoin co-founder pleads blameworthy connected fraud, wealth laundering charges appeared archetypal connected CryptoSlate.

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