Crypto Mining $3.5 Million Scheme: Man Indicted For Alleged “Cryptojacking” Operation

In simpler terms, a man from Nebraska is facing multiple criminal accusations from New York officials for suspected involvement in a $3.5 million cryptocurrency scam. If convicted, he may be sentenced to a maximum of 30 years in prison according to the statement.

Man Accused With Fraud And Money Laundering

On Monday, a 45-year-old man was charged by New York law enforcement for running an unlawful “cryptojacking” operation, resulting in significant financial damage to the tune of millions for two cloud computing companies.

At a press event, Breon Peace from the US Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of New York, FBI agents from the New York Field Office, and an NYPD commissioner announced their joint efforts on an ongoing investigation.

Charles O. Parks III, also referred to as “CP30,” is reportedly charged with operating a substantial “cryptojacking” scam that swindled two major cloud computing providers. The announcement states that these companies suffered significant losses, approximating $3.5 million, due to this deceitful act.

A grand jury has accused Parks of committing wire fraud, money laundering, and illegal monetary transactions as part of an alleged scheme. The suspect was taken into custody in Nebraska on April 13. Parks, who is currently in detention, will make his initial court appearance before a federal judge in Omaha on Tuesday, April 16.

If found guilty, Parks may be sentenced to a maximum term of incarceration totalling 30 years for the offenses of wire fraud, money laundering, and unlawful monetary transactions.

Regarding the arrest, NYPD Commissioner Edward A. Caban stated:

The recent arrest demonstrates the effectiveness of law enforcement collaborating with businesses to apprehend cybercriminals and dismantle their intricate schemes. Despite the increasing complexity and sophistication of cybercrime, NYPD and federal authorities remain vigilant and adaptable in countering the nefarious activities of these adversaries.

Cryptojacker Mines $1 Million

Unauthorized crypto mining, or cryptojacking, refers to when hackers secretly use someone else’s device to mine cryptocurrencies, exploiting their processing power without permission.

According to the announcement, it is claimed that Charles Parks illegally took over two cloud computing services, using the seized resources to amass millions in cryptocurrency.

An alleged scheme to secretly mine virtual currencies without permission resulted in the accused personally gaining over $1 million worth of Ether, Litecoin, and Monero.

Between January and August of 2021, Parks established and employed multiple aliases, business identities, and email addresses to sign up for several accounts with the cloud service providers.

The cryptojacker illegally obtained a huge amount of computational power and storage space from other sources without making any payment. In the course of his plan, Parks sent emails using the domains of his businesses, MultiMillionaire LLC and CP30 LLC.

In a similar manner, it is claimed that the defendant manipulated the suppliers into granting enhanced perks and upgraded cloud services for his accounts. These favors encompassed postponed billing arrangements.

It appeared that Parks avoided answering questions from the providers about suspicious data use and growing unpaid subscription fees.

The funds obtained from the hijacking plan were concealed using various techniques, as uncovered by the investigation. Parks reportedly employed crypto exchanges, an NFT marketplace, internet payment platforms, and even conventional bank accounts to mask the origin of the money.

Additionally, the currently apprehended individual seems to have arranged several financial transactions in a way that bypassed the reporting obligations stipulated by federal legislation.

To put it differently, the report’s final finding was that Parks spent the illegal funds on lavish items. This includes buying expensive cars, jewelry, and luxury travel arrangements.

Crypto Mining $3.5 Million Scheme: Man Indicted For Alleged “Cryptojacking” Operation

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2024-04-17 07:12