Two MIT graduates accused of stealing $25 million worth of cryptocurrency are attempting to block the use of their search history as evidence by federal prosecutors.
Search History as Evidence
Brothers Anton and James Peraire-Bueno filed a motion in Manhattan federal court seeking to exclude their search history as evidence. The defense argues that searches for 'top crypto lawyers' and 'wire fraud statute of limitations' are irrelevant and prejudicial.
Charges Against the Peraire-Bueno Brothers
According to the U.S. Department of Justice, the brothers are accused of exploiting Ethereum’s Maximal Extractable Value (MEV) system in April 2023. They allegedly intercepted private transactions and manipulated them to steal $25 million in just 12 seconds. Prosecutors claim these actions indicate 'consciousness of guilt', while the defense insists that the search for lawyers was part of a prudent legal consultation.
Defense's Next Steps
The Peraire-Bueno brothers also moved to exclude other pieces of evidence, including articles that provide ' inflammatory descriptions' of them, as well as a screenshot from Twitter, which they argue cannot be properly authenticated. Their attorneys contend that such evidence would be prejudicial and inadmissible.
The legal proceedings are ongoing, and the judge's decision regarding the admissibility of the search history will be a significant factor in the case moving forward.
