Former investment banker Rashawn Russell has been sentenced to 41 months in prison for his involvement in a cryptocurrency scheme and access device fraud. The sentencing took place in Eastern New York District Court in Brooklyn on May 31. Russell, a former executive at Deutsche Bank, pleaded guilty to the charges in September.
According to the Justice Department (DOJ), Russell operated the fraudulent R3 Crypto Fund between November 2020 and August 2022. The fund promised investors high returns on cryptocurrency investments, but in reality, Russell used the money for personal gain or to repay other investors. He also falsely claimed to have wired money to investors who requested repayment.
In addition to his involvement in the cryptocurrency scheme, Russell was also found to have obtained 97 bank cards using at least 43 identities between September 2021 and June 2023, with the intention of using them for fraudulent transactions.
Russell, who was also a registered broker with the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, faced a maximum sentence of 30 years in prison for his crimes. In addition to his prison term, he has been ordered to pay $1.5 million in restitution to the victims of the cryptocurrency scheme.
This case is just one of several recent prosecutions targeting individuals involved in fraudulent activities in the cryptocurrency space. In April, computer security engineer Shakeeb Ahmed was sentenced to three years in prison for flash loan attacks on crypto exchanges. In May, brothers Anton Peraire-Bueno and James Pepaire-Bueno were charged with wire fraud and money laundering for manipulating the Ethereum blockchain, while Thomas John Sfraga pleaded guilty to wire fraud charges related to a nonexistent crypto wallet scheme.
The crackdown on cryptocurrency-related crime by enforcement agencies in the United States appears to be intensifying, with a number of high-profile cases coming to light in recent months. As regulators and law enforcement agencies ramp up their efforts to combat fraud and financial crimes in the crypto space, it serves as a warning to those who may be tempted to engage in illegal activities within the industry.