The Department of Justice (DOJ), announced that two European citizens were charged with conspiring to assist North Korea in evading U.S. sanctions by using cryptocurrency. They conspired “to teach and advise members of the North Korean government on cutting-edge cryptocurrency and blockchain technology, all for the purpose of evading U.S. sanctions.”
Virgil Griffith, and two co-conspirators attend DPRK Cryptocurrency conference
The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) announced Monday that “two European citizens have been charged for conspiring with a U.S. citizen to assist North Korea in evading U.S. sanctions.”
The DOJ alleged that Spanish citizen Alejandro Cao de Benos and British citizen Christopher Emms “conspired with American Virgil Griffith to provide cryptocurrency and blockchain services to North Korea.”
Griffith, an Ethereum developer and entrepreneur, received a sentence of more than 5 years prison after he pleaded guilty in March to one count each of conspiracy to violate the International Emergency Economic Powers Act. According to the DOJ, both Cao De Benos (and Emms) remain in hiding.
According to court documents, Cao De Benos and Emms recruited Griffith “to provide services at the DPRK Cryptocurrency Conference and arranged Griffith’s travel to the DPRK in April 2019 for this purpose, in contravention of U.S. sanctions.”
Detail:
Cao De Benos coordinated approval from the DPRK government for Griffith’s participation in the conference.
In addition, Emms told Griffith, “the DPRK will not stamp your passport,” claiming that he had “obtained a rare full permission” from the DPRK “for U.S. citizens to enter the country” for the DPRK Cryptocurrency Conference, the DOJ described.
U.S. Attorney Damian Williams for the Southern District of New York explained that the defendants conspired with Griffith “to teach and advise members of the North Korean government on cutting-edge cryptocurrency and blockchain technology, all for the purpose of evading U.S. sanctions meant to stop North Korea’s hostile nuclear ambitions.”
Cao De Benos or Emms did not obtain authorization from OFAC to sell goods, services or technology to DPRK. The DOJ concluded that:
Cao De Benos, Emms were charged with conspiring to violate or evade U.S sanctions. This is in violation of IEEPA which carries a maximum statutory sentence of 20 years imprisonment.
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