MAROKO133 Eksklusif crypto: DOJ Charges Venezuelan National in $1 Billion Crypto Launderin

📌 MAROKO133 Eksklusif crypto: DOJ Charges Venezuelan National in $1 Billion Crypto

The Department of Justice charged a Venezuelan national this week for allegedly using crypto exchanges in a $1 billion money laundering scheme.

According to the complaint, the funds moved in and out of the United States. Outbound destinations included “high-risk” jurisdictions such as Colombia, China, Panama, and Mexico.

Prosecutors Detail Multi-Step Crypto Fund Routing

According to court records, 59-year-old Jorge Figueira of Venezuela is accused of using multiple bank accounts, cryptocurrency exchange accounts, private crypto wallets, and shell companies to move and launder illicit funds across borders.

“By enlisting subordinates and conducting scores of transfers, Figueira sought to conceal the nature of the funds, potentially facilitating criminal activity in numerous countries,” FBI special agent Reid Davis said in a statement. 

Figueira allegedly followed a multi-step process that included converting funds into cryptocurrency and routing them through a network of digital wallets. The crypto assets were then moved through a structured sequence to obscure their origin.

He reportedly sent the funds to liquidity providers to convert the cryptocurrency into dollars, then transferred the funds to his bank accounts and eventually to the final recipients. 

The case against Figueira is currently under review in the Eastern District of Virginia. US Attorney Lindsey Halligan emphasized that the volume of money involved represented substantial risks to public safety.

“Money laundering at this level enables transnational criminal organizations to operate, expand, and inflict real-world harm. Those who move illicit funds in the billions should expect to be identified, disrupted, and held fully accountable under federal law,” Halligan said in a statement.

If convicted, Figueira faces up to 20 years in prison. 

This is one of several investigations that have emerged over the past year. Together, they highlight the growing use of cryptocurrencies in facilitating illicit activities.

Illicit Crypto Flows Surge Despite Oversight

Cryptocurrency crime has reached an all-time high in 2025, and the trend seems to continue into the new year. 

According to a recent Chainalysis report, illicit addresses received at least $154 billion last year. The figure represented a 162% increase from 2024.

Stablecoins, in particular, have been criminals’ preferred crypto asset. In 2020, Bitcoin accounted for roughly 70% of illicit transactions, while stablecoins accounted for only 15% of total volume. 

Five years later, that pattern has reversed. In 2025, stablecoins represented 84% of all illicit transaction volume. Bitcoin’s use shrunk to just 7%.

As a result, major stablecoin issuers have had to intervene. On Sunday, Tether, the issuer of USDT, froze over $180 million in a single day due to suspicious activity detected across Tron-based wallets. 

The episode also highlighted the growing coordination among law enforcement agencies, stablecoin issuers, and blockchain analytics platforms. 

The post DOJ Charges Venezuelan National in $1 Billion Crypto Laundering Scheme appeared first on BeInCrypto.

🔗 Sumber: www.beincrypto.com

📌 MAROKO133 Eksklusif crypto: DOJ Did Not Sell Forfeited Samourai Bitcoin, White H

A White House crypto advisor said the US government has not sold any Bitcoin forfeited in the Samourai Wallet case, pushing back against market rumors sparked by recent on-chain activity.

Patrick Witt, executive director of the White House President’s Council of Advisors for Digital Assets, said he received direct confirmation from the US Department of Justice that the assets were neither liquidated nor earmarked for sale.

“We have received confirmation from DOJ that the digital assets forfeited by Samourai Wallet have not been liquidated and will not be liquidated,” Witt wrote on X on Friday, adding that the Bitcoin would remain part of the Strategic Bitcoin Reserve.

57.5 BTC Transfer Sparks Questions Over US Government Bitcoin Sales

Questions first surfaced in November after blockchain analysts flagged a transfer of 57.5 BTC from a government-controlled wallet to a Coinbase Prime deposit address.

The movement prompted speculation that US authorities may have sold or planned to sell the funds, drawing criticism from market participants who pointed to Executive Order 14233.

Signed by President Donald Trump in March, the order requires that any Bitcoin obtained through criminal or civil forfeiture “shall not be sold” and instead be retained for the Strategic Bitcoin Reserve.

Some observers accused the US Marshals Service of violating the directive, allegations now denied following the DOJ clarification.

Public data suggests the US government remains one of the world’s largest Bitcoin holders. Figures from Bitcoin Treasuries show federal authorities control 328,372 BTC, valued at more than $31 billion at current prices.

That total includes 127,271 BTC forfeited in October from a Cambodia-based entity accused of running a so-called pig-butchering investment scam.

Witt reiterated that expanding the Strategic Bitcoin Reserve remains a policy priority. In a recent interview, he said progress depends on coordination between the Treasury and Commerce departments to address outstanding legal and operational issues.

Legislative efforts are also underway. A bill sponsored by Cynthia Lummis proposes accelerating reserve accumulation, targeting the acquisition of up to 1 million Bitcoin over five years.

The proposal emphasizes budget-neutral methods, with officials saying any accumulation would avoid costs to taxpayers.

Trump Signals Possible Pardon for Samourai Wallet Developer

Two developers behind Samourai Wallet were sentenced to prison in November after prosecutors said the privacy-focused Bitcoin wallet processed more than $237 million in criminal proceeds.

Keonne Rodriguez received a five-year sentence on Nov. 6, while his co-developer, Hill, was sentenced to four years on Nov. 19. Both were also ordered to forfeit roughly $6.3 million in fees earned through the platform.

The case took a political turn in December when Donald Trump said he would consider pardoning Rodriguez.

Speaking to reporters during an Oval Office event on Dec. 16, Trump said he had “heard about it” and instructed Attorney General Pam Bondi to review the case.

Rodriguez later welcomed the remarks, arguing on social media that the prosecution reflected “lawfare” and a weaponized Justice Department under the Biden administration.

Trump has previously pardoned Ross Ulbricht and Changpeng Zhao in related crypto cases, and has raised optimism of a similar pardon for Rodriguez.

The post DOJ Did Not Sell Forfeited Samourai Bitcoin, White House Crypto Advisor Says appeared first on Cryptonews.

🔗 Sumber: cryptonews.com