CNN —A husband and wife, whose eccentricities and alleged crimes earned them the nickname “Bitcoin Bonnie and Clyde,” pleaded guilty to orchestrating a $4.5 billion money-laundering scheme linked to the 2016 hack of crypto exchange Bitfinex.
Until Thursday’s hearing in Washington, DC, federal court, neither Morgan nor Lichtenstein had been directly implicated in the hacking of Hong Kong-based crypto exchange Bitfinex.
“Lichtenstein then took steps to cover his tracks” and enlisted his wife’s help in laundering the funds, prosecutors said.
Lichtenstein pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit money laundering, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison, according to a press release from the Justice Department.
Morgan pleaded guilty to one count of money laundering conspiracy and one count of conspiracy to defraud the United States, each of which carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison.
Persons:
Bonnie, ”, Ilya Lichtenstein, Heather Morgan, “ Razzlekhan, Lichtenstein, Morgan, Colleen Kollar, Kotelly, Lichtenstein “, “ Lichtenstein, Clarissa, ” Lichtenstein
Organizations:
CNN, Justice Department, New
Locations:
Clyde, Russian, Washington , DC, Hong Kong, New York, Manhattan, Russia, United States