New York – Irina Dilkinska, once at the helm of compliance for the deceitful cryptocurrency venture OneCoin, pleaded guilty yesterday to counts of wire fraud and laundering of illicit funds in a Manhattan federal courtroom.
Keypoints
- Irina Dilkinska, who once led compliance at OneCoin, confessed her guilt to charges involving wire fraud and laundering dirty money in a Manhattan federal courthouse.
- Despite her role, Dilkinska was a key player in relocating $110 million of illicit earnings to Cayman Islands accounts.
- OneCoin was a deceptive cryptocurrency operation swindling $4 billion from investors from 2014 to 2016.
- The founder, Ruja Ignatova, called the 'Crypto Queen,' remains untraceable after disappearing in 2017. A reward of $100,000 is offered for clues leading to her capture.
- Karl Sebastian Greenwood, connected with Ignatova, faced a 20-year prison sentence and a $300 million restitution order for his involvement in the OneCoin plot.
- Dilkinska might be imprisoned for up to 5 years for each charge, with sentencing set for February 2024.
- OneCoin swindled over $4 billion in revenue and netted $3 billion in fake profits from millions globally through its scam structure.
- Authorities from multiple nations intervened to close down OneCoin's operations once victims reported it as a swindle.
Dilkinska acknowledged her role in directing $110 million of the OneCoin scam's profits to an offshore account in the Cayman Islands, contrary to her official responsibilities at the company.
OneCoin deceived millions of investors internationally out of over $4 billion from 2014 to 2016, masquerading as a lucrative crypto opportunity while functioning solely as a pyramid scheme lacking an authentic blockchain.
Damian Williams, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York, noted that 'As OneCoin's so-called Head of Legal and Compliance, Irina Dilkinska executed duties that starkly contravened her purported responsibilities.'
The figure formerly in charge of legal and compliance for the billion-dollar cryptocurrency pyramid scheme 'OneCoin' concedes guilt. https://t.co/E656236UXh
— US Attorney SDNY (@SDNYnews) November 9, 2023
Facing potential incarceration of up to 5 years per accusation, Dilkinska's sentencing in February 2024 marks another conviction as authorities strive to bring justice to OneCoin's victims.
OneCoin creator Ruja Ignatova, also called the 'Crypto Queen,' disappeared in October 2017 shortly before U.S. fraud and laundering charges. She remains on the run with unknown whereabouts.
Media reports in 2022 claimed Ignatova may have been assassinated off the Greek coast by a Bulgarian narcotics kingpin connected with OneCoin, though these claims are unsupported by credible evidence.
Ignatova's associate, Karl Sebastian Greenwood, has already been imprisoned for 20 years and penalized with a $300 million restitution for masterminding the OneCoin hoax.
This scenario underscored the need for caution when assessing crypto investment schemes with unrealistically high returns. Regulators continue to target and dismantle fraudulent operations within the cryptocurrency market.
