OneCoin's Former Legal Head Seeks Time-Served Sentence in Cryptocurrency Fraud Case
Summary:
OneCoin's former "head of legal and compliance", Irinia Dilkinska, has her lawyer requesting a time-served sentence for her involvement in the cryptocurrency scam that swindled $4 billion from investors. In November 2023, Dilkinska pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud and money laundering. OneCoin's co-founders, Karl Sebastian Greenwood and Ruja Ignatova, are key figures in the case, with Greenwood sentenced to 20 years in prison, and Ignatova still at large.
Lawyer John Buza, representing Irinia Dilkinska, OneCoin's former "head of legal and compliance", has asked for a time-served sentence for her involvement in the cryptocurrency fraud. The request was made in a sentencing memorandum submitted on March 20, in the Southern District Court of New York. Dilkinska admitted to conspiracy to commit wire fraud and money laundering in November 2023. Buza argued that any sentence beyond the time served would be excessively punitive, given Dilkinska's unique position in the case and the difficult circumstances she's presently in.
Dilkinska confessed to laundering money for OneCoin's co-founders, Karl Sebastian Greenwood and the notorious 'Cryptoqueen', Ruja Ignatova. Launched in 2014, it was revealed in 2015 that OneCoin was a scam, having swindled investors out of approximately $4 billion. In September 2023, Greenwood was sentenced to 20 years and was ordered to pay $300 million in restitution to the victims. Ignatova, however, remains on the run at the time of this report.
As informed by the U.S. Justice Department, Dilkinska's guilty plea could see her spend a maximum of 10 years in prison. A similar fate befell Mark Scott, a lawyer for OneCoin, who was sentenced to 10 years in January after being convicted of conspiracy to commit bank fraud and money laundering in November 2019.
In presenting their case for leniency, Dilkinska's legal defense brought forth letters from family and friends. Buza emphasized her excellent conduct during incarceration and her roles as a devoted wife and mother, warning that any sentence exceeding time served may result in extreme injustice.
In March, Judge Edgardo Ramos sentenced Konstantin Ignatov, the Cryptoqueen's brother, to time served after spending 34 months in prison for his guilty plea to charges of money laundering and fraud in 2019.
Published At
3/21/2024 8:11:12 PM
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