Ninth person pleads guilty in $263 million Bitcoin fraud case: 22-year-old laundered $3.5 million, gang operated with company-like division of labor

2025-12-09 02:08:22

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[Blockchain News] Another major cryptocurrency case has new developments.

The US Department of Justice just announced that in the $263 million Bitcoin fraud case, another core member has pleaded guilty. 22-year-old Evan Tangeman from California stood before a federal judge and admitted to helping the criminal group launder over $3.5 million in dirty money. He’s the ninth unlucky person in this case to plead guilty.

These guys were ruthless. From October 2023 to May this year, they stole about 4,100 Bitcoins in total. At the time, these coins were worth $263 million. Now? They’ve risen to $371 million. Ironic, isn’t it?

This group started out as just a bunch of online gaming friends—scattered across California, Connecticut, New York, Florida, and a few abroad. Somehow, they ended up forming a professional crime syndicate: hackers were responsible for breaking into websites and servers to get access to cryptocurrency user databases; others specialized in picking out “fat sheep” from the database; some made phone calls to carry out scams; and some even went door-to-door stealing hardware wallets. Clear division of labor, everyone had their role.

Tangeman’s sentencing hearing is scheduled for April 24, 2026.

By the way, there was another guy named Kunal Mehta who also pleaded guilty earlier. Besides helping the group launder money, he treated himself to 28 luxury cars. Really knows how to enjoy life.

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SchrodingersPaper

· 12-11 15:40

Damn, it's another scam group... 22 years old and already washed 3.5 million? I'm still in the paper hand stage 😅

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quietly_staking

· 12-10 20:23

Starting money laundering at 22 years old, this group's division of labor is truly impressive... Feels more professional than legitimate companies.

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MelonField

· 12-09 02:37

Already laundering money at 22, this guy really knows how to "start a business"... --- Wait, after stealing 4,100 bitcoins, the value went up by over 100 million? Shouldn't these guys be glad they got caught? --- Their division of labor is as good as a company, haha, just short of going public. The courtroom is basically their "funding pitch." --- From online gaming friends to a criminal gang, that's one extreme career change... --- 3.5 million in dirty money, and your life is like this at just 22. Was it worth it, bro? --- So ridiculous, the coins dropped in value when they stole them, but now that they're pleading guilty, the price went up. What a costly joke. --- If this gang really organized as a company, their management would probably be pretty standardized, haha... The court must be amused. --- The ninth person has pleaded guilty? How many more are waiting to take the fall? --- Pleading guilty in federal court at 22—now that's a unique resume.

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AmateurDAOWatcher

· 12-09 02:36

Haha, it's the same old trick again. Young people treat engaging in illegal activities like running a company... Washing 3,500,000 at the age of 22, that's really bold. It's too late for regrets now.

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SelfCustodyIssues

· 12-09 02:28

Went in at 22, was it worth it? The coin even went up, that's wild.

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RektRecorder