A 22‑year‑old defendant pleaded guilty in a multi‑state RICO conspiracy that used database breaches and phone‑based social engineering to divert roughly 4,100 bitcoins (about $263 million at the time). The superseding indictment adds three defendants and underscores intensified DOJ enforcement against large‑scale cryptocurrency theft and laundering.

Federal prosecutors announced a guilty plea in a sprawling social‑engineering conspiracy that targeted victims, exploited breached databases, and used phone‑based deception to divert approximately 4,100 bitcoins — valued at roughly $263 million at the time of theft. The defendant, described as 22 years old in the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia release, admitted participation in a scheme that moved funds through complex laundering networks and multiple jurisdictions. This plea is the ninth secured in the broader investigation; a contemporaneous superseding indictment expands charges by adding three additional defendants and alleges continued coordination among co‑conspirators. The filings emphasize investigative priorities on crypto‑asset thefts and transactional obfuscation, signaling federal willingness to pursue RICO and money‑laundering charges in digital asset cases. Prosecutors also detailed cooperation with international and private sector partners to trace wallet movements and recover assets, and they warned that social‑engineering tactics combined with technical intrusions remain a potent risk for crypto holders and intermediaries.