MoonPay Execs Caught in Trump-Linked $250K Crypto Scam – Why Did DOJ Seal the Case?
Main Idea
A federal cryptocurrency fraud case involving a scam tied to Donald Trump’s circle and MoonPay executives was briefly sealed due to a clerical error, raising transparency concerns, while MoonPay's political donations and regulatory pressures are highlighted.
Key Points
1. A Nigerian scammer posed as Steve Witkoff, co-chair of Trump’s inaugural committee, to steal $250,300 in Ethereum-based USDT.
2. The DOJ initially sealed the case due to a clerical error, which was later unsealed, with acting U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro clarifying the mistake.
3. MoonPay CEO Ivan Soto-Wright and CFO Mouna Doumani were identified as victims in the scam, with blockchain wallet addresses linked to Soto-Wright in a 2023 lawsuit.
4. MoonPay donated $1 million to Stand With Crypto, a pro-crypto PAC, citing regulatory pressures and the importance of the 2024 election for the industry.
5. Other crypto firms and executives, including Solana Labs and Uniswap’s founder, also made significant donations to Trump’s 2024 campaign.
Description
A federal cryptocurrency fraud case with unexpected ties to Donald Trump’s circle and senior MoonPay executives has become a legal spectacle after it was briefly sealed in full, then swiftly unsealed, with acting U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro blaming court clerks for the confusion. The case, originally filed publicly by the Department of Justice (DOJ) on July 11, was accompanied by a press release outlining charges against a Nigerian national accused of impersonating Steve Witkoff , a prominent re...
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