Ex-Takeout Driver Ordered to Repay $3.8 Million After Bitcoin Money Laundering Conviction
Jian Wen, a former takeaway worker in the U.K., has been ordered to repay over $3.78 million (£3.1 million) following a conviction for money laundering linked to Bitcoin. Wen, 42, was sentenced to six years and eight months in prison after authorities connected her to a cryptocurrency wallet containing 150 Bitcoin, valued at nearly $15 million. Prosecutors emphasized the substantial amount of seized Bitcoin and the absence of legitimate sources for the funds, suggesting it was criminal property. The court ruled that Wen profited approximately £3,500,113 from criminal activities, with her available assets valued at £3,126,572. She is required to pay this amount within three months or face an additional seven years in prison. If further assets are uncovered, she remains liable for the difference between the total benefits and the current confiscation order. This case reflects the growing concern regarding cryptocurrency-related criminal activities in the U.K., where law enforcement agencies have intensified efforts to seize illicit crypto assets.
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