- More OneCoin fraud perpetrators are answering to justice.
- The legal officer involved in the fraud helmet scheme has been sentenced to a multiple-year prison term.
- OneCoin founder Ruja Ignatova remains at large.
Crypto scams in the industry take several shapes and forms, but one notable one is the OneCoin fraud. Perpetuated by the infamous ‘cryptoqueen’ Ruja Ignatova nearly ten years ago, the fraudulent scheme impacted over 3.5 million victims, resulting in the initiation of legal proceedings to enforce justice.
Over the past years, the legal pursuit has gained momentum, with the conviction of several of Ignatova’s accomplices resulting in imprisonment. Now, nearly one year later, the drumbeat of justice continues.
Lawyer Jailed for OneCoin Fraud
According to a statement by the US Justice Department on Wednesday, April 3, Irina Dilkinska, the former chief legal officer involved in the OneCoin fraud, has been sentenced to four years in prison.
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The sentencing follows Dilkinska’s guilty plea in November 2023, in which she admitted her involvement in the fraudulent global multi-level marketing (“MLM”) network scheme that saw the loss of over $4 billion for investors and the laundering of several millions of illicit profits.
Emphasizing the extent of her crimes, U.S. Attorney Damian Williams asserted that Dilkinska’s involvement in the OneCoin project was a flagrant breach of conduct.
“Rather than upholding the law and embracing her position as the Head of Legal and Compliance, she facilitated and committed money laundering, aiding in the exploitation of millions of victims. As Dilkinska learned today, this Office will hold accountable every perpetrator of the OneCoin scheme, no matter where they may hide,” stated Williams.
In addition to her sentence, the 42-year-old Bulgarian was ordered to forfeit $111,440,000 of her ill-gotten proceeds and issued an additional sentence of one month of supervised release.
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Irina Dilkinska’s conviction and sentencing are not isolated, as they follow the ongoing streak of justice against the pyramid scheme.
Onecoin Justice Pursuit
While the Onecoin fraud gang leader, Ruja Ignatova, has remained on the run, US prosecutors have continued to capture her accomplices.
In 2019, Mark Scott, a former Locke Lord LLP equity partner, was convicted of laundering millions of dollars tied to OneCoin Ponzi Scheme founder Ruja Ignatova. Following his conviction, Scott attempted to appeal the jury sentence but faced rejection when a US judge ruled that he lined his pockets with over $50 million stolen from victims.
Similarly, Onecoin co-founder Sebastian Greenwood was sentenced to 20 years in prison in September 2023. Greenwood, an active participant in the swindling scheme, earned 5% of monthly Onecoin sales generated by users who recruited other members to purchase crypto packages in exchange for commissions.
Ruja Ignatova was last seen five years ago, and the United States is actively seeking her whereabouts. The government urges the public to contact the FBI or any U.S. Embassy with information on her location.
Discover more about US prosecutors against the OneCoin fraud perpetrators:
OneCoin Lawyer Loses Appeal in $400M Money Laundering Case
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