The United States increases the reward for the “Crypto Queen” by 2,000%
The United States increased the reward for information leading to the arrest of the founder of OneCoin, Ruja Ignatova, who is wanted in that country for alleged crimes of fraud and fraud.
According to information from the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), that country is now offering USD 5 million to anyone who provides information or collaborates with the capture of the woman also known as the “Crypto Queen,” who is part of the list of the 10 most wanted fugitives by that police agency since 2022.
In this way, the North American country significantly increases the reward for Ignatova, remembering that in 2022, The FBI offered USD 100,000 for the information to finally capture her. The reward was increased in 2023 to USD 250,000.
In January 2023, the “Crypto Queen” of OneCoin showed signs of life after missing for 5 years. As CriptoNoticias reported, The woman tried to sell one of her luxurious properties in Londonfor about USD 12,000 million.
The new reward to capture the “Crypto-Queen” is part of the Rewards Program against Transnational Organized Crime, carried out by the United States Department of State.
Ruja Ignatova is the founder of OneCoin, a cryptocurrency platform accused of swindling more than USD 4 billion through a pyramid scheme. According to authorities, the scheme was operational from 2014 until its collapse in 2017.
This has been recognized as one of the biggest cryptocurrency scams ever committed. It is a historic case that was even brought to television.
In its days, OneCoin operated through a network of promoters, who were responsible for inciting users to invest in supposed tokens. However, It was a fake project since these assets never existed.
Ignatova is accused in the United States, India, Germany and her home country, Bulgaria, for various crimes. Among them, conspiracy to commit wire fraud, conspiracy to commit money laundering and securities fraud.
He will continue to flee, authorities say
Although the reward for Ignatova’s capture increased by 1,900%, US authorities suggest that this fugitive She will continue to flee accompanied by armed bodyguardsThey also speculate that Ignatova underwent plastic surgery to alter her appearance.
Some of OneCoin’s collaborators have already seen the weight of the law fall. For example, in March 2023, Irina Dilkinska, one of the ringleaders of that cryptocurrency pyramid scheme, She was extradited to the United States. There she was charged with conspiracy to commit wire fraud and money laundering.
That same year, OneCoin co-founder Karl Greenwood was sentenced to 20 years in prison for these crimes. More than USD 300 million was also confiscated from him.
In early 2024, the United States Department of Justice sentenced OneCoin lawyer Mark Scott to 10 years in prison. Scott waited five years to hear his sentence, as he was found guilty of money laundering in 2019, as reported by CriptoNoticias.
