Venezuelan Charged in $1B Crypto Money Laundering Case
US authorities have brought charges in a case that highlights how cryptocurrency is increasingly woven into large, cross-border financial crime schemes.
Prosecutors allege that a Venezuelan national built an elaborate system to quietly move vast sums of money through both digital assets and the traditional banking system, masking the trail at every step.
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Federal prosecutors say Jorge Figueira, a 59-year-old Venezuelan citizen, sits at the center of a laundering network that moved close to $1 billion. The criminal complaint, filed in federal court in Alexandria, Virginia, accuses him of conspiracy to launder money using a structure designed to handle enormous volumes without drawing attention.
According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia, the operation was not limited to a single platform or country. Instead, it relied on multiple layers of accounts, entities, and intermediaries to push funds through the global financial system.
Crypto as a transit layer, not the destination
Investigators describe cryptocurrency as a key transit point rather than the final stop. Funds were allegedly shifted into digital assets, fragmented across numerous wallets, and sent through repeated transactions before being routed to liquidity providers. From there, the crypto was converted back into US dollars and introduced into bank accounts tied to the network.
Authorities say this cycle was repeated frequently, creating a maze of transactions intended to break the link between the money and its original source. The structure allowed funds to cross borders quickly while avoiding the scrutiny typically applied to large international bank transfers.
Law enforcement tracks massive flows
The Federal Bureau of Investigation said its analysis identified roughly $1 billion in cryptocurrency transactions passing through wallets allegedly connected to the scheme. Those transfers involved dozens of movements across multiple jurisdictions, pointing to an operation with international reach rather than a domestic-only effort.
Investigators believe the scale and coordination suggest the network may have supported criminal activity beyond the United States, though the current charge focuses on laundering rather than the underlying offenses tied to the funds.
High-risk destinations raise concerns
Prosecutors say much of the incoming money originated from cryptocurrency trading platforms. Outgoing transfers, however, were sent to a wide range of recipients, both in the US and abroad. Several destinations flagged by authorities are considered high-risk from a financial crime perspective, including Colombia, China, Panama, and Mexico.
The pattern of flows, officials argue, reflects an effort to distribute funds in ways that reduce detection and complicate international cooperation between regulators and law enforcement agencies.
What the charge means
Figueira is charged with conspiracy to launder money, an offense that carries a potential sentence of up to 20 years in prison. Any penalty would ultimately be determined by a federal judge, based on sentencing guidelines and the facts established in court.
While the case is still at an early stage, it underscores a broader enforcement message. US authorities are increasingly focused on networks that blend crypto with conventional finance, rather than targeting isolated platforms or single transactions. The allegation signals that cryptocurrency’s speed and flexibility can draw intense scrutiny when paired with large-scale efforts to conceal illicit funds.
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