The IRS Reveals Top 10 Criminal Cases of 2023
The U.S. Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI) division has released its list of the top 10 criminal cases of 2023. These cases include the IRS’s most prominent and high-profile investigations, with a significant focus on cryptocurrency-related crimes.
Four High-Profile Crypto Fraud and Tax Evasion Cases
Among the top 10 cases, four involved high-profile cryptocurrency frauds and tax evasion schemes. These included the Silk Road Bitcoin seizure, the sentencing of OneCoin co-founder for a multi-billion dollar scam, the imprisonment of Amir Bruno Elmaani, founder of Oyster Pearl, for tax evasion; and the conviction of Ian Freeman in a Bitcoin money laundering scheme.
“Billions of dollars in fraud, victims across the globe and criminals who are all about personal gain. That’s the crux of 2023’s top 10 cases,” said Criminal Investigation Chief Jim Lee. “When I say our team at CI is the best at following the money trail, I mean it.”
“Our investigators took down international tax schemes that preyed on people’s personal information, investigated multi-level marketing schemes involving cryptocurrency and uncovered one of the largest fraud schemes in history centered around renewable fuel credits,” said Lee.
High Profile Crypto Scheme and Tax Evasion
Karl Sebastian Greenwood, co-founder of the notorious OneCoin scheme, was sentenced to 20 years in prison for orchestrating a vast global fraud. Initiated in 2014, OneCoin duped millions of investors worldwide under the guise of a legitimate crypto, resulting in over $4 billion in fraudulent investments. Greenwood and Ruja Ignatova masterminded this multi-level-marketing network rooted in misrepresentations and deceit. Greenwood was also ordered to forfeit approximately $300 million.
Amir Elmaani, known as “Bruno Block,” the founder of Oyster Protocol, was sentenced to four years in prison for tax evasion. He admitted to unreported profits from selling Pearl tokens and causing over $5.5 million in tax losses. Elmaani engaged in fraudulent activities in 2017, including minting and dumping PRL tokens, misleading investors, and concealing earnings through extravagant purchases and family proxies. He also faces a substantial restitution order of $5.5 million.
IRS Continues to Hit Crypto AML Cases
Anti-money laundering (AML) was also highlighted in the list. Ian Freeman was sentenced to 96 months in prison for laundering over $10 million through a Bitcoin scheme involving romance scams and internet frauds. He failed to legally register his business and disabled anti-money laundering measures at his Bitcoin kiosks. Freeman used church-related accounts to hide these activities and evade taxes from 2016 to 2019. He is also required to pay restitution to victims, with the amount to be determined later.
Hot Take: The IRS Sheds Light on Major Cryptocurrency Scams in 2023
The U.S. Internal Revenue Service has revealed its list of the top 10 criminal cases of 2023, showcasing its efforts to crack down on cryptocurrency-related crimes. These cases include high-profile frauds and tax evasion schemes involving cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin and OneCoin. The IRS-CI division is committed to following the money trail and taking down international tax schemes that prey on individuals’ personal information. With significant prison sentences and hefty restitution orders, the IRS is sending a clear message that it will not tolerate cryptocurrency scams and illicit activities. This highlights the importance of compliance with tax regulations and anti-money laundering measures in the crypto industry.
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