A Canadian man accused of overstaying his visa in the US has been charged with a cryptocurrency fraud scheme that authorities say stole more than $13 million from victims by pretending to be crypto sponsors.
According to the US Attorney’s office for the Southern District of Florida, 19-year-old Trenton Richard David Johnston. he says was placed as a proxy for a popular search engine and crypto-related companies to find access to digital accounts and cryptocurrency wallets living in Miami.
Prosecutors allege that Johnston and his associates transferred the victims’ cryptocurrencies for personal gain, resulting in losses of more than $13 million.
Authorities also charged 28-year-old Brandon Michael Tardibone of Miami, saying he lived with Johnston while he was in the US illegally and helped launder money from the scheme.
Prosecutors say the couple spent more than $1 million on luxury cars, jewelry, and nightly shopping.
Johnston is charged with conspiracy to commit wire fraud and conspiracy to commit money laundering. If convicted, he could face up to 20 years in prison on each charge.
Tardibone is charged with conspiracy to commit money laundering and detaining an alien in the US, charges that carry up to 20 years and 10 years in prison, respectively.
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