Russian Cybercrime Suspect Alexander Vinnik Enters Guilty Plea, Faces Shorter Sentence
Alexander Vinnik, Accused of Money Laundering, Enters Partial Guilty Plea
According to his lawyer as cited by TASS news agency, Alexander Vinnik, a Russian cybercrime suspect currently detained in California, has pleaded partially guilty to charges against him. The plea bargain is expected to result in a prison term of less than 10 years, a significant reduction from the potential life imprisonment he faced.
Arkady Bukh, Vinnik's lawyer, stated that the plea deal was reached after negotiations with the prosecutor's office. Vinnik, who was accused of laundering over $4 billion through bitcoin, faced extradition requests from both the United States and Russia.
Initially arrested in Greece in 2017 at the request of the United States, Vinnik was later extradited to France, where he received a five-year sentence for money laundering. Subsequently, he was sent back to Greece before being extradited to the United States in 2022.
The U.S. Department of Justice alleges that Vinnik operated BTC-e, an online platform facilitating cybercrime and money laundering activities involving bitcoin. The department has stated that Vinnik's maximum penalty for the charges against him in the United States is 55 years in prison.
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