- Charges Against Olumide Osunkoya
- Among the First Accused for Illegal Crypto ATMs
- FCA Measures and Joint Actions
The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) has charged an individual for the first time for the illegal operation of crypto ATMs.
Charges Against Olumide Osunkoya
According to the FCA statement from September 10, the 45-year-old Mr. Osunkoya is charged with unlawfully operating crypto ATMs without FCA approval for over 20 months. Mr. Osunkoya ran these crypto ATMs without registering them with the FCA and processed £2.6 million (~$3.4M) in transactions. He is also charged with the creation and use of false documents for illegal activities.
Among the First Accused for Illegal Crypto ATMs
Mr. Osunkoya is the first person to be charged for running an illegal crypto ATM network after another London resident, 37-year-old Habibur Rahman, was arrested and charged in April 2023 for operating a single unregistered crypto ATM. The FCA warned users of crypto ATMs about the high risk of losing their money.
FCA Measures and Joint Actions
The FCA continues to work with other law enforcement agencies such as Bedfordshire Police, Metropolitan Police, and others. Joint raids have led to the inspection of 34 suspected locations and the seizure of 26 illegally operating machines. The FCA warns that company directors or senior officers may also be charged if found guilty of violating regulations.
This first-ever charge highlights the severity of illegal crypto ATM operations and the FCA's efforts to combat violations in this area.
