Ilya Lichtenstein and Heather Morgan, known as the “Bitcoin Bonnie & Clyde,” are reportedly preparing to plead guilty for their involvement in an alleged cryptocurrency laundering scheme worth $4.5 billion.
The couple was charged with money laundering and conspiracy to defraud in the United States in February 2022, related to the laundering of 119,754 bitcoins stolen from Hong Kong’s Bitfinex in 2016.
In a recent court filing, it was revealed that Lichtenstein and Morgan have been newly charged with a document called an “information,” which outlines criminal charges similar to an indictment but does not require a grand jury’s vote. This suggests that they may have agreed to plead guilty, and federal prosecutors commonly use such documents in such cases.
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The alleged cryptocurrency laundering scheme was a complex operation, and the couple is accused of attempting to move a vast sum of money through digital assets while concealing its origin.
The value of the stolen bitcoins significantly increased over time, with 119,754 bitcoins now worth nearly $3.6 billion.
Lichtenstein, a Russian emigre, has been in a Washington, D.C., jail since his arrest, while Morgan, a rapper known as “Razzlekhan,” is out on a $3 million bond.
If found guilty, the couple could face up to 25 years in prison, but the potential impact of a plea deal on their sentence remains uncertain.
Morgan has been on 24-hour house arrest in a Wall Street high-rise and sought remote work opportunities, specifically in B2B growth, marketing, sales, copywriting, and demand generation.
She has been granted permission to work from her employer’s New York office three days a week, with monitoring software installed on her computer and smartphone.