Elmin Redzepagic, living in Connecticut, has been charged with 21 counts related to crypto fraud, according to the DOJ announcement.
The defendant is accused of impersonating a high-profit crypto investor, soliciting funds from multiple individuals, but then losing nearly $1 million on the offshore gambling platform Stake.com between May 2021 and March 2025.
The charges include 3 counts of making false statements to IRS Criminal Investigation agents, 7 counts of wire fraud, and 11 counts of international money laundering. Each false statement charge carries a maximum sentence of 5 years in prison, while the wire fraud and money laundering charges can each carry a maximum of 20 years imprisonment.
Prosecutors stated that Redzepagic also fabricated additional “gas fees” to withdraw nonexistent profits and claimed to work in a group led by a person nicknamed “The Chef.” The defendant has pleaded not guilty and was released on a $500,000 bond.
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