US federal agents quietly ran a crypto laundering operation that initially belonged to a man they had arrested for nearly a year.
According to an April 8 report from 404 Media, the scheme, which used Elon Musk’s name as a cover, was kept active by the FBI to gather information and stop further illegal transactions. The investigation involved known drug dealers and hackers, including some linked to the group Scattered Spider.
The original operator, Anurag Pramod Murarka, was arrested after entering the US on a visa that had been approved by federal officials. Murarka, a 30-year-old from India, was sentenced in January to 10 years in prison for conspiracy to launder money.
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According to US law, he must serve at least 85% of that sentence, followed by three years of supervised release.
Before his arrest, Murarka used the online names “elonmuskwhm” and “la2nyc” to offer crypto laundering services. He advertised these services on dark web marketplaces, communicating through encrypted apps and directing payments to certain digital wallets.
Once Murarka was in custody, the FBI continued the operation from a small postal location in Kentucky that had been part of his setup. Agents intercepted more illegal payments by pretending to be Murarka and kept tracking money movements. Over $1.4 million in planned transactions were stopped during this period.
Meanwhile, the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) recently received court approval to shut down 95 firms linked to crypto and romance scams. What did the agency say about it? Read the full story.
Having completed a Master’s degree in Economics, Politics, and Cultures of the East Asia region, Aaron has written scientific papers analyzing the differences between Western and Collective forms of capitalism in the post-World War II era.With close to a decade of experience in the FinTech industry, Aaron understands all of the biggest issues and struggles that crypto enthusiasts face. He’s a passionate analyst who is concerned with data-driven and fact-based content, as well as that which speaks to both Web3 natives and industry newcomers.Aaron is the go-to person for everything and anything related to digital currencies. With a huge passion for blockchain & Web3 education, Aaron strives to transform the space as we know it, and make it more approachable to complete beginners.Aaron has been quoted by multiple established outlets, and is a published author himself. Even during his free time, he enjoys researching the market trends, and looking for the next supernova.
