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USA v. Potapenko et al

  1. August 26, 2025

    Feds Appeal No-Jail Sentences In $577M Crypto Fraud Case

    Federal prosecutors said Tuesday that they're appealing the time-served sentences for two Estonian nationals who pled guilty to wire fraud conspiracy in connection with a $577 million cryptocurrency mining Ponzi scheme, while the federal judge who handed down the sentencings called them "one of the most difficult" of his career.

  2. August 13, 2025

    2 Estonians Get Time Served For $577M Crypto Ponzi Scheme

    Two Estonian nationals have received no additional jail time for operating a $577 million crypto mining Ponzi scheme, despite federal prosecutors' assertions the pair deserved 10 years in prison for the fraud. 

  3. August 06, 2025

    DOJ Wants Crypto Fraudsters To Get 10 Years For $577M Case

    Two Estonian nationals say they should get no additional jail time after pleading guilty to running a $577 million crypto-focused Ponzi scheme, while prosecutors told a federal court the men each deserve 10 years in prison "to punish their massive and egregious fraud, to deter them and others from committing similar fraud in the future, and to protect the public."

  4. April 17, 2025

    Feds Say Estonians Won't Be Deported Before Fraud Sentence

    Prosecutors told a Washington federal judge Thursday that they had secured approval for "deferred action" from the Department of Homeland Security on potential immigration proceedings against two Estonian men awaiting sentencing for a cryptocurrency fraud scheme.

  5. April 14, 2025

    Estonians Flag 'Disturbing' Deportation Threat In Fraud Case

    Two Estonian men who pled guilty in a case alleging they ran a $577 million cryptocurrency fraud scheme told a Washington federal judge they each received emails from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security telling them to leave the country despite being under court order to remain in the U.S.

  6. February 13, 2025

    2 Men Cop To Crypto Mining Fraud Conspiracy, Forfeit $400M

    A pair of Estonians have pled guilty to wire fraud conspiracy and agreed to forfeit assets worth $400 million in connection with Washington state federal prosecutors' claims that they ran a $577 million cryptocurrency Ponzi scheme, the government said Thursday.

  7. July 31, 2024

    CORRECTED: Estonians Extradited In $575M Crypto Fraud Case Win Bail

    A Washington federal judge has allowed two Estonian men to be released on bail backed by $5 million bonds after they were extradited to Seattle to face criminal charges that they operated cryptocurrency and money laundering schemes worth $575 million.

  8. May 31, 2024

    2 Estonians Charged In $575M Crypto, Laundering Schemes

    Two Estonian nationals have been extradited to Seattle to face charges that they operated a pair of schemes that brought in $575 million, including a fraud on investors that touted fake cryptocurrency mining capacity.

  9. May 23, 2023

    BlockFi Must Transfer Money Used For $575M Scam, Feds Say

    Federal prosecutors on Tuesday asked a Washington federal judge to compel BlockFi to comply with a seizure warrant for money held in one of the bankrupt cryptocurrency company's accounts that was used for two Estonians' $575 million cryptocurrency fraud and money laundering scheme.

  10. November 21, 2022

    Feds Say Estonian Duo Ran $575M Crypto Mining, Bank Scam

    Two Estonians face federal criminal claims that they perpetrated a $575 million cryptocurrency fraud and money laundering scheme that federal prosecutors described Monday as "astounding."