The U.S. Department of Justice (DoJ) has charged two Russians, Sergey Ivanov and Timur Shakhmametov, with using crypto to launder money and evade sanctions.
Shutting Down Illegal Crypto Exchanges
The investigation led to the shutdown of three major crypto exchanges: UAPS, PinPays, and Cryptex. Cryptex was popular among cybercriminals for offering complete anonymity to users. Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco stated that this operation is part of the government's ongoing efforts to disrupt cybercrime.
Roles of Ivanov and Shakhmametov
According to the documents, Ivanov and Shakhmametov stole millions by laundering money for cybercriminals worldwide. Ivanov, known as 'Taleon,' moved about $1.15 billion in crypto. Shakhmametov, under the pseudonym 'JokerStash,' ran a large carding market selling data from millions of stolen credit cards.
Officials' Statements and Further Actions
The Secret Service seized Cryptex.net and Cryptex.one, which processed over 62,586 crypto transactions worth about $1.4 billion, with around 31% coming from criminals. The government also took control of servers hosting PM2BTC and Cryptex, with Dutch authorities stepping in to seize over $7 million.
The U.S. government vows to continue taking action against cybercrime, including the use of cryptocurrencies for illegal activities.
