The renowned couple involved in the infamous crypto heist, Ilya Lichtenstein and Heather Morgan, are reportedly preparing to plead guilty in their upcoming court appearance on August 3rd. They have been newly charged with laundering $4.5 billion in hacked Bitcoin in a document known as an information, which is similar to an indictment but does not require a grand jury’s vote.
The couple, also known as the “Bitcoin Bonnie & Clyde,” had previously pleaded not guilty in a case that charged them with money laundering and conspiracy to defraud in the United States. They were arrested in February 2022 for attempting to launder an astounding $4.5 billion in cryptocurrency stolen from Hong Kong’s Bitfinex in 2016.
According to a new court filing, there are indications that Lichtenstein and Morgan may plead guilty. Federal authorities accused them of trying to launder 119,754 bitcoin, which was worth about $70 million at the time of the theft. However, by the time of their arrest, the value had inflated into the billions. Today, this amount of bitcoin is worth nearly $3.6 billion.
Lichtenstein, also known as “Dutch,” has been in jail since his arrest due to concerns that he is a flight risk. Morgan, a rapper who goes by the name “Razzlekhan,” is currently free on a $3 million bond. The charges stated in the document are confidential, but the court has ordered the couple’s defense to provide plea paperwork, including the charged offense, statutory provision, elements of the offense, and penalties.
If found guilty, Lichtenstein and Morgan could face up to 25 years behind bars. The potential impact of a plea deal on their sentence remains unclear. Morgan has been spending her home confinement in a Wall Street high-rise, searching for remote work opportunities in the fields of B2B growth, marketing, sales, copywriting, and demand generation. She was recently granted permission to work from her employer’s office three days a week.
Morgan’s plea for job opportunities on social media seemed to have worked, as her lawyer mentioned in a court filing that she is now working as a growth marketing and business development specialist. Her employer’s identity has been kept confidential for security reasons. Despite her active online presence in the past, Morgan has been quiet on social media since her arrest.
In the midst of this legal battle, it seems that the notoriety of the “Razzlekhan” has diminished, and the couple now faces a crucial decision as they contemplate their plea options in this high-profile case.
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