Christopher Hamilton, a British nationwide allegedly linked to Cryptoqueen’ Ruja Ignatova’s cryptocurrency scheme OneCoin, reportedly faces extradition to america on fees associated to a rip-off going again to 2014.
In response to a Tuesday report from authorized information outlet Law360, a choose in the UK will allow the method to maneuver ahead for Hamilton to be extradited to the U.S. on fees of wire fraud and cash laundering. Hamilton was allegedly concerned in laundering $105 million via the crypto Ponzi scheme OneCoin, which defrauded greater than 3 million traders of greater than $4 billion via the sale of packages beginning in 2014.
A choose cleared the best way Tuesday for a British man to be extradited to the U.S. to face cash laundering and wire fraud fees stemming from the worldwide OneCoin cryptocurrency rip-off. https://t.co/6nDFizeCt9
— Law360 (@Law360) August 30, 2022
Underneath a bilateral extradition settlement between america and the UK signed in 2003, an government authority of the U.Okay. authorities — on this case, possible Dwelling Secretary Priti Patel — will determine whether or not to proceed with Hamilton’s switch to U.S. custody. In response to the U.S. Division of Justice, the extradition process “can take many months and even years to finish.” Hamilton can even possible have the ability to enchantment the choice.
Associated: Alexander Vinnik reportedly en path to the US after extradition
Ignatova obtained a spot on the FBI’s Ten Most Wished checklist in June for her alleged involvement within the crypto Ponzi scheme. In response to the FBI, the Cryptoqueen’s final recognized location was in Athens in 2017. The bureau provided to pay as much as $100,000 for data resulting in her arrest. Europol can also be offering a 5,000-euro reward for “essential data” associated to Ignatova’s whereabouts.
“Ignatova allegedly made false statements and representations about OneCoin to attract folks to put money into OneCoin packages,” said the FBI in June. “In response to investigators, Ignatova and her associate additionally promoted OneCoin via a multi-level advertising and marketing technique that urged OneCoin traders to promote further packages to family and friends.”
