New Zealand Woman Accused of Murder After Faking $160K Crypto Profits to Mother

Key Points

1. Julia DeLuney, 53, faces murder charges for the death of her 79-year-old mother, Helen Gregory, in January 2024.

2. DeLuney allegedly transferred over $90,000 to crypto platforms while accumulating a deficit, fabricating $160,000 in profits and requesting $18,000 from her mother shortly before the killing.

3. Financial records show DeLuney used the money for credit card debt, Lotto tickets, and utility payments, with only $1,200 actually invested in crypto.

4. New Zealand has introduced reforms including a nationwide ban on cryptocurrency ATMs and a $5,000 cap on international cash transfers to combat crypto-related crime.

5. The DeLuney case follows similar crypto-linked crimes in other regions, such as a suspected murder during a crypto exchange transaction in South Korea.