Roman Sterlingov convicted for operating Bitcoin Fog: longest-running darknet money laundering service.

Roman Sterlingov Convicted for Operating Bitcoin Fog – the Longest-Running Money Laundering Service on the Darknet

A federal court in Washington has convicted Roman Sterlingov, a Russian-Swedish citizen, for his involvement in the darknet cryptocurrency mixer Bitcoin Fog and laundering $400 million. Bitcoin Fog had been in operation since 2011 and was the longest-running money laundering service on the darknet, processing over 1.2 million bitcoins from the markets.

Illegal Activities Facilitated by Bitcoin Fog

The services offered by Bitcoin Fog facilitated a range of illegal activities, including drug trafficking, cybercrimes, identity theft, and materials related to child sexual exploitation.

Conviction and Potential Penalties

Sterlingov was found guilty of charges related to conspiracy to launder money, money laundering in support of a specified unlawful activity, and operating as an unlicensed money transmitter. He faces up to 20 years in prison for money laundering and up to 5 years for operating as an unlicensed money transmitter.

A Message for Cryptocurrency-Related Services Operating in the US

This conviction sends a clear message that cryptocurrency-related services operating in the United States must comply with U.S. law.

Investigation and International Cooperation

American law enforcement agencies, including the IRS-CI and FBI, collaborated with international partners in the investigation against Bitcoin Fog and Sterlingov. The case was prosecuted by attorneys Jeff Pearlman and C. Alden Pelker from the Department of Justice’s Computer Crime and Intellectual Property Section.

Sentence as a Milestone in the Fight Against Cybercrime

The case against Sterlingov underscores global efforts to combat cybercrimes and enforce legal and ethical boundaries in the digital realm. This conviction represents a milestone in the fight against cybercrime, emphasizing that anonymity in the digital world is not beyond the reach of law enforcement.