U.S. Attorneys in Texas have filed criminal charges against 21 U.S. citizens. Alleging that it is suspected of helping various transnational criminal groups use cryptocurrencies for money laundering.
Prosecutors say the 21 each played a key role in international fraud and criminal operations, acting as domestic money launderers for their foreign accomplices, and at least four of them have pleaded guilty.
The multi-year investigation, dubbed Dubbed Operation Crypto Runner, was conducted by the Department of Justice, the U.S. Secret Service and the East Texas Branch of the Postal Inspection Service, and so far the operation has uncovered more than $300 million in annual money laundering transactions, seized Millions of dollars in cash and cryptocurrency were seized and thousands of victims were identified.