Federal prosecutors in the United States have charged a 59-year-old Venezuelan national with laundering about $1 billion through cryptocurrency wallets and shell companies. Jorge Figueira could receive up to 20 years in prison for what authorities describe as one of the largest such operations ever prosecuted by the Justice Department.
Jorge Figueira, a 59-year-old Venezuelan, has been indicted by U.S. federal prosecutors on charges related to a massive money-laundering scheme involving cryptocurrency. According to officials, Figueira allegedly laundered approximately $1 billion using crypto wallets and shell companies. This case stands out as one of the largest money-laundering operations handled by the Justice Department.
The charges highlight the growing scrutiny on cryptocurrency's role in illicit financial activities. Prosecutors emphasize the scale of the operation, which involved sophisticated methods to obscure the origins of the funds. Figueira faces a potential sentence of up to 20 years in prison if convicted.
While details of the scheme's timeline and exact methods remain limited in public disclosures, the case underscores efforts to combat financial crimes in the digital asset space. No further specifics on Figueira's background or the funds' sources were immediately available from the charging documents.
