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Gotbit Founder Extradited from Portugal to US on Crypto Fraud Charges
Aleksei Andriunin, the 26-year-old Russian founder of Gotbit, has been extradited to the United States to face charges of orchestrating a multi-million dollar scheme that artificially inflated cryptocurrency trading volumes.
According to court documents, Gotbit marketed its services as “market makers,” providing fake trading volume for multiple cryptocurrency companies. The company allegedly earned tens of millions of dollars from these fraudulent activities and even transferred millions from its business proceeds into Andriunin’s personal Binance account.
Andriunin was arrested in Portugal last October and has now been extradited to the US, where he will face charges of wire fraud and conspiracy to commit market manipulation and wire fraud. The indictment describes how Gotbit used multiple accounts to avoid detection on public blockchains, artificially inflating trading volumes for its clients.
If convicted, Andriunin could face up to 20 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000 or twice the gross gain or loss from the offense. He may also be required to pay restitution and forfeit assets.
The case involved international cooperation between the FBI’s Legal Attaché in Madrid and Portugal’s Policia Judiciaria European Network of Fugitive Active Search Team (ENFAST), as well as coordination with Portuguese authorities to secure Andriunin’s arrest and extradition.
Source: https://blockonomi.com/gotbit-founder-extradited-from-portugal-to-us-on-crypto-fraud-charges/
