In a recent legal development, John Buza, representing Irinia Dilkinska, the former "head of legal and compliance" for the fraudulent OneCoin cryptocurrency scheme, has requested leniency from a U.S. court.
Dilkinska confessed to her involvement in the OneCoin scam, admitting guilt to both wire fraud and money laundering conspiracy charges in November 2023.
These admissions were made in connection to the OneCoin scandal, a cryptocurrency scheme that was revealed as a fraud in 2015, resulting in misappropriation of approximately $4 billion from investors.
The plea for leniency was submitted through a sentencing memorandum filed on March 20 in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York.
Buza argued that incarcerating Dilkinska further was unnecessary, based on her unique circumstances and challenges she encounters.
Buza emphasized that any sentence beyond time served would be excessive, advocating for a sentence that aligns with the time already served, considering the circumstances.
Dilkinska's involvement in OneCoin connected her with co-founders Karl Sebastian Greenwood and Ruja Ignatova, also known as the "Cryptoqueen."
Greenwood has been sentenced to 20 years in prison and ordered to pay a $300 million restitution, while Ignatova's location remains unknown.
Under U.S. law, Dilkinska could face up to a ten-year prison term, similar to Mark Scott, another OneCoin lawyer who was convicted and sentenced to 10 years in January.
In preparation for Dilkinska's sentencing, her defense team submitted letters attesting to her positive conduct in detention and her vital role in her family to support their plea for leniency.
Konstantin Ignatov, the brother of the missing Ignatova, was sentenced to time served after spending 34 months in custody for pleading guilty to money laundering and fraud in 2019.
Dilkinska's legal team is using this previous judgment as a basis to argue against additional imprisonment, aiming to prevent what Buza referred to as "a massive injustice," highlighting her role as a dedicated wife and mother.
