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ARTICLE · 15 JULY 2022

US DOJ Announces Four Cryptocurrency-Related Fraud Prosecutions

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Consistent with its role as a leader in the investigation and enforcement of offenses involving cryptocurrencies and other digital assets, on June 30, 2022, the US Department of Justice (DOJ) announced four separate enforcement actions.

United StatesTechnology
Glen A. Kopp
Glen A. Kopp
Gina M. Parlovecchio
Gina M. Parlovecchio
Nicolas E. Rodriguez
Nicolas E. Rodriguez
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Consistent with its role as a leader in the investigation and enforcement of offenses involving cryptocurrencies and other digital assets, on June 30, 2022, the US Department of Justice (DOJ) announced four separate enforcement actions related to cryptocurrency-related fraud and other misconduct, which are summarized below.1 Notably, all four prosecutions involve alleged cross-border wrongdoing in the digital asset space prosecuted pursuant to long-standing fraud-based statutes.

The Enforcement Actions

These enforcement actions reflect the DOJ's continued focus on a variety of cross-border wrongdoing in the digital asset space.

  • Money Laundering and Wire Fraud: In United States v. Le Ahn Tuan, the DOJ charged a Vietnamese national with conspiracy to commit wire fraud and money laundering in connection with his alleged role in carrying out a fraudulent investment scheme involving the "Baller Ape" Non-Fungible Token (NFT).2 The DOJ alleges that the defendant

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