暗网比特币“混合器”运营商被判处 3 年监禁，并没收超过 4 亿美元资产

拉里·迪恩·哈蒙（Larry Dean Harmon）的行动在网络毒贩中非常受欢迎，他们利用他的服务洗钱。

Larry Dean Harmon, a 41-year-old Akron resident, has been sentenced to three years in prison and ordered to forfeit over $400 million in assets for operating a darknet-based 'mixer' called Helix, which laundered his customers' Bitcoins. His operation was reportedly very popular among online drug dealers, who used his services to wash their money.

41 岁的阿克伦居民拉里·迪恩·哈蒙 (Larry Dean Harmon) 因经营名为 Helix 的暗网“混合器”，对其客户的比特币进行洗钱，被判处三年监禁，并被责令没收超过 4 亿美元的资产。据报道，他的业务在网络毒贩中非常受欢迎，他们利用他的服务洗钱。

According to a press release from the Justice Department, Helix processed approximately 354,468 bitcoins during its operations, totaling $311,145,854 when these transactions occurred. The court cases also mention that this operation consists of funds coming through the darknet drug markets. In return, Harmon retained a percentage from the transaction as a commission.

根据司法部的一份新闻稿，Helix 在其运营过程中处理了大约 354,468 枚比特币，这些交易发生时总计 311,145,854 美元。法庭案件还提到，这项行动包括来自暗网毒品市场的资金。作为回报，哈蒙从交易中保留了一定比例作为佣金。

Harmon did this by developing an API that integrated the darknet drug marketplace with Helix to enable direct Bitcoin withdrawals. Investigators were able to trace this transaction, which involved tens of millions of dollars. Helix operated this laundering system from 2014 to 2017. Only on August 18, 2021, did Harmon plead guilty to conspiracy to commit money laundering. However, Harmon was only recently sentenced by U.S. District Judge Beryl Howell of the Federal court in Washington, DC.

Harmon 通过开发一个 API 来实现这一目标，该 API 将暗网毒品市场与 Helix 集成，以实现直接比特币提款。调查人员追踪到了这笔涉及数千万美元的交易。 Helix从2014年到2017年运营这个洗钱系统。直到2021年8月18日，哈蒙才承认共谋洗钱罪。然而，哈蒙最近才被华盛顿特区联邦法院的美国地区法官贝丽尔·豪威尔(Beryl Howell)判刑。

This investigation included several personnel and investigation authorities, notably those from the Justice Department's Criminal Division, the IRS Criminal Investigation, and the FBI's Cyber Division.

这项调查包括多名人员和调查机构，特别是来自司法部刑事部门、国税局刑事调查部门和联邦调查局网络部门的人员。

As a result, he was awarded a three-year prison sentence with three years of supervised release and forfeiture of multiple items, including $311,145,854, along with cryptocurrencies, real estate, and bank assets totaling over $400 million. As large as it seems, his sentencing was lenient as he cooperated with the investigations and accepted responsibility by pleading guilty.

结果，他被判处三年监禁、三年监管释放，并没收多件物品，包括 311,145,854 美元，以及总计超过 4 亿美元的加密货币、房地产和银行资产。虽然案情看似严重，但由于他配合调查并认罪认罪，量刑较轻。

In other news, Bitcoin prices have soared to over US$84,000 following Donald Trump's victory in the 2024 U.S. presidential elections. Bitcoins have been used by many such illicit operations globally but have also been caught and seized eventually. Successful cases like this might deter many from using the crypto asset for money laundering or as a means to deal with drugs and any illicit substance or activities.

其他消息方面，随着唐纳德·特朗普 (Donald Trump) 在 2024 年美国总统大选中获胜，比特币价格已飙升至 84,000 美元以上。比特币已被全球许多此类非法活动所使用，但最终也被抓获和扣押。像这样的成功案例可能会阻止许多人使用加密资产进行洗钱或作为处理毒品和任何非法物质或活动的手段。