Global Crypto Money Laundering Network Dismantled: Operator Sentenced to 10 Years

An Indian national, Anurag Pramod Murarka, has been sentenced to over 10 years in a U.S. federal prison for orchestrating a global money-laundering network that leveraged cryptocurrency to hide illicit funds.

Operating under aliases such as “elonmuskwhm,” Murarka laundered more than $20 million from April 2021 until his arrest in September 2023.

Murarka’s scheme primarily targeted criminals, advertising on dark web marketplaces as a means to convert crypto into cash. Once contacted, he arranged transactions and facilitated fund transfers through a traditional hawala system, ensuring anonymity. To avoid detection, cash was often hidden in creative ways, such as between book pages or sealed in envelopes before being mailed to clients.

U.S. authorities dismantled the operation, seizing $1.4 million, counterfeit drugs, and additional illicit proceeds. Federal prosecutors highlighted the global implications of Murarka’s actions, emphasizing the need for international efforts to combat cybercrime and money laundering.

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Murarka will serve at least 85% of his sentence and remain under supervision for three years after release. His case adds to a growing list of crypto-related laundering operations, including recent charges against individuals in Florida and Russia for laundering funds linked to drug cartels and cybercriminals. These incidents reflect the increasing complexity of tackling crypto-fueled financial crimes.

Kosta Gushterov