BTC-e founder accused of money laundering seeks to be freed in prisoner swap

BTC-e co-founder Alexander Vinnik aims to beryllium released done a captive swap, The Wall Street Journal reported May 24.

Vinnik seeks to beryllium released by U.S.

A lawyer argued successful tribunal that Vinnik should beryllium allowed to respond to accusations and advocator for his inclusion successful a captive exchange.

Vinnik is simply a Russian national presently being held successful the United States. The U.S. was reportedly consenting to commercialized Vinnik for U.S. women’s pro hoops subordinate Brittney Griner, who was antecedently held successful Russia connected cause charges. However, Griner was yet freed successful speech for Russian arms trader Viktor Bout successful 2022.

The U.S. Department of Justice primitively charged Vinnik successful 2017 erstwhile it alleged that helium had engaged successful wealth laundering. The bureau besides said that Vinnik’s exchange, BTC-e, aided ransomware attacks, individuality theft schemes, and cause trafficking.

BTC-e, which was founded successful 2011, was seized and halted by U.S. authorities successful July 2017 erstwhile they arrested respective unit members astatine the exchange.

Vinnik pleaded not blameworthy to U.S. charges and denied having power implicit the exchange’s direction, according to The Wall Street Journal.

Previous detention successful Europe

Despite the information that the United States announced charges against Vinnik years ago, helium was not extradited to the U.S. until August 2022.

Vinnik was archetypal arrested successful Greece successful 2017 astatine the petition of the U.S. He was past extradited to France successful 2020, wherever helium was cleared of ransomware charges but convicted connected wealth laundering charges. He was sentenced to 5 years successful situation successful France.

Russia besides submitted unsuccessful extradition requests during Vinnik’s detainment.

The station BTC-e laminitis accused of wealth laundering seeks to beryllium freed successful captive swap appeared archetypal connected CryptoSlate.