The founder of Gotbit, Aleksei Andriunin, has agreed to a plea deal with US prosecutors after being accused of manipulating cryptocurrency markets.
Under the agreement, he will forfeit approximately $23 million in Tether
The plea deal includes Andriunin admitting guilt to three charges related to conspiracy to commit wire fraud and market manipulation. A signed letter from March 19 outlines these charges, confirming his acknowledgment of wrongdoing.
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In the agreement, Andriunin also accepts that forfeiting the funds does not clear any other penalties or debts he may owe to the US government. This includes fines, restitution, or any other financial obligations that could arise from the case.
A letter from the US Attorney for the District of Massachusetts, Leah Foley, further clarifies that this deal only applies to Andriunin and the prosecutors involved. It does not prevent other federal, state, or local authorities from taking action against him.
Additionally, the letter states that the court is not required to follow the sentencing recommendations set in the plea deal. Andriunin will not be able to withdraw his guilty plea if the final sentence differs from his expectations.
According to a February 26 statement from the US Attorney, Andriunin was arrested in Portugal on October 8, 2024, and extradited to the United States on February 25, 2025. What exactly did he do? Read the full story.
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