Washington: Dr. Ruja Ignatova, the so-called “Cryptoqueen,” was added to the FBI’s list of ten most wanted fugitives, and the agency is now offering a $100,000 reward for information leading to her capture.
Ignatova, the creator of the 2014-launched cryptocurrency OneCoin, is accused of defrauding investors out of more than $4 billion over the course of three years before disappearing. She was put to the most wanted list for Europe by Europol last month.
Investigators said that the initiative, which was situated in Bulgaria, lacked a blockchain to secure transactions and that currencies were virtually created out of thin air. In contrast, Bitcoin is protected by a worldwide network of miners who uphold a blockchain, often known as a public ledger.
Ignatova was added to the list of the most wanted fugitives by the Southern District of New York, which announced this at a news conference on Thursday morning.
They would eventually reach her, according to Mike Driscoll, the associate director of the FBI in charge of the New York office. And Damian Williams, the US attorney for the Southern District of New York, referred to Ignatova as “an international fugitive who allegedly masterminded a worldwide fraud.”
Sits side by side on the Top Ten list with cartel leaders, murderers, and terrorists.
Damian Williams, US attorney, Southern District of New York
Ignatova has been involved with the legal system for at least five years. After a federal grand jury indicted her in October 2017, the Southern District of New York issued an arrest warrant for her.
Ignatova was charged with one count each of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, wire fraud, conspiracy to engage money laundering, conspiracy to commit securities fraud, and securities fraud in a superseding indictment that was released in February 2018. The maximum penalty for each count is 20 years.
Ignatova flew from Bulgaria to Greece on October 25, 2017, according to a news statement from the FBI, however she may have proceeded from there.
She may travel on a German passport to the United Arab Emirates, Bulgaria, Germany, Russia, Greece and/or Eastern Europe.
FBI
The extensive scam is compared by investigators to a global pyramid scheme. Ignatova is accused of making fraudulent claims to attract investment. Then, in order to purchase the currency, the victims would transfer money to OneCoin accounts.
In a ballgown, Ignatova ascended the stage at England’s Wembley Arena at the height of OneCoin’s popularity in 2016 to promote a coin she said would surpass bitcoin. Igantova was renowned for hosting extravagant events in many places throughout the globe.
Anyone with information regarding her whereabouts is urged to contact the FBI at tips.fbi.gov. , according to the agency.
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