In a shocking turn of events, a husband and wife duo engaged in cyber-crime have pleaded guilty to attempting to launder a staggering $4.5 billion (£3.5 billion) worth of Bitcoin that had been stolen during a hack back in 2016.
Heather Morgan and Ilya Lichtenstein, based in New York, were apprehended by the police after their extensive crypto heist was traced back to them. The criminals tried to elude law enforcement, with Morgan assuming the persona of a rapper and tech entrepreneur, known as “Razzlekhan.” In a plea deal, Lichtenstein confessed to being the mastermind behind the hack, while both partners admitted to money laundering. Morgan additionally confessed to conspiracy charges related to defrauding the United States.
The Rapper and Tech Entrepreneur Masking a Cyber-Criminal Mastermind
While authorities were closing in on them, Heather Morgan unabashedly promoted her “bad-ass money maker” image through expletive-filled music videos and rap songs, all filmed at various locations around New York. She even portrayed herself as “the crocodile of Wall Street.” Morgan cunningly published articles in Forbes, where she claimed to be a highly successful tech businesswoman, sporting the titles of “economist, serial entrepreneur, software investor, and rapper.” In the background, she and her husband were attempting to cash out their ill-gotten gains from Bitfinex, a crypto firm.
Sophisticated Techniques to Launder the Stolen Bitcoin
Court documents laid bare the couple’s elaborate scheme to launder their stolen cryptocurrency. They employed a variety of methods, including splitting the Bitcoin into tiny amounts and transferring them to numerous crypto wallets with fake identities. Mixing their loot with other criminal cryptocurrency on the darknet marketplace Alphabay, purchasing gold coins, and setting up shell companies to create the illusion of legitimacy were also part of their elaborate plan.
The Fatal Flaw: Shopping with Stolen Funds at Walmart
Despite their seemingly complex methods, the cyber-criminal couple made a critical error by using stolen funds to purchase Walmart supermarket vouchers. This simple yet costly act drew the attention of the authorities and prompted a further investigation, eventually leading to their arrest.
More from News
- How The UK Government Is Helping With Employment Reform
- What Are The Data-Related Risks Of Period Tracker Apps?
- Investment in UK Businesses Up 3% This Year
- How Much Water Does ChatGPT Actually Use?
- Why Is Tesla Facing Legal Action In Australia?
- How AI Is Helping Scammers Enrol Fake Students To Get College Funding
- Syria Set to Rejoin SWIFT International Payment System
- Searches For ‘Sell Tesla’ Up 372% As Donald Trump and Elon Musk Feud Goes Viral
Police Utilise Blockchain Analysis to Track Down Criminals
The successful police operation serves as a notable example of employing advanced tools to analyse transactions on Bitcoin’s public blockchain ledger. One of the key breakthroughs for investigators came from tracking the stolen Bitcoin through the public records of transactions. By connecting Walmart gift cards to proceeds from the Bitfinex hack, police were able to gather valuable evidence, propelling their investigation forward.
Hollowed-Out Books, Burner Handsets, and a Planned Escape to Russia
When police raided the couple’s Manhattan apartment, they discovered hidden mobile phones within hollowed-out books, dozens of burner handsets, several USB sticks, and a significant sum of cash totaling $40,000. Authorities also managed to decrypt a meticulously detailed spreadsheet outlining the couple’s money-laundering methods, enabling them to recover almost the entire stolen amount.
Communication records revealed Morgan and Lichtenstein’s intent to flee to Russia, Lichtenstein’s country of birth, where they hoped to live a life of luxury as billionaires beyond the reach of US authorities.
The Implications of the Cyber-Crime Heist
The hack of Bitfinex in 2016 resulted in customers losing 36% of their assets held with the crypto exchange. However, by 2019, the company had reimbursed the victims, and with the recovered Bitcoins set to be returned, Bitfinex and some customers who exchanged their losses for shares are potentially in line for a substantial windfall.
Meanwhile, Heather Morgan and Ilya Lichtenstein face the grim prospect of prison sentences, with Lichtenstein potentially serving a maximum of 20 years, while Morgan faces up to 10 years for her role in the cyber-crime escapade. This case serves as a stark reminder that even the most elaborate schemes cannot evade the watchful eye of determined law enforcement, aided by cutting-edge blockchain analysis tools.
