Buzz
After successfully raising funds, Lê Anh Tuấn and his associates closed the website, seized investment capital, and laundered money through cryptocurrency transactions.
According to information from the US Department of Justice, this entity has just accused 6 individuals of fraudulent behavior in the cryptocurrency field, causing over $100 million in damages.
Specifically, these 6 individuals are criminally charged in 4 separate cases. One of these four cases is believed to be the largest NFT fraud ever known.
Notably, this incident involves an individual named Lê Anh Tuấn (26 years old), holding Vietnamese nationality.
According to the US Department of Justice, Lê Anh Tuấn is indicted on charges of conspiracy to commit phone fraud and international money laundering conspiracy. These allegations are related to an NFT collection named Baller Ape.
According to the prosecution, Lê Anh Tuấn was directly involved with Baller Ape Club. This project involved casting and selling NFT cartoon characters to investors. Lê Anh Tuấn and accomplices then deleted the website and absconded with the raised funds.
Based on blockchain evidence, the US Department of Justice found that Lê Anh Tuấn and associates laundered money by converting it into another cryptocurrency, then passing it through multiple blockchains and using decentralized exchange methods to conceal their tracks.
The US Department of Justice stated that Lê Anh Tuấn and accomplices embezzled 2.6 million USD from investors. If convicted, he could face up to 40 years in prison.
'The US Department of Justice and its partners are utilizing all available tools to protect users and investors from fraud and manipulation. These indictments reflect our commitment to prosecuting individuals involved in cryptocurrency fraud,' commented Kenneth A. Polite - Assistant Attorney General of the United States.
FBI Assistant Director Luis Quesada from the Criminal Investigative Division stated: 'As the cryptocurrency market evolves and brings new opportunities for users, criminals also seek to exploit them.'
'The FBI and its partners will persist in investigating and bringing criminals to justice,' shared Mr. Luis Quesada.
