According to a statement from the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Odaily District of Illinois, cryptocurrency ATM operator Virtual Assets LLC and its CEO Firas Isa were formally charged on Tuesday with money laundering. The company operated Bitcoin ATMs under the name "Crypto Dispensers" in multiple locations across the United States.
Prosecutors allege that 36-year-old Isa and her company helped criminals launder at least $10 million in illicit funds using cryptocurrency. The funds were allegedly first deposited into company accounts, then converted into cryptocurrency and transferred to digital wallets to conceal their origin.
If convicted, Isa faces up to 20 years in prison. It's worth noting that on the Crypto Dispensers website, Isa published a series of blog posts in October, including "How to Withdraw Bitcoin from an ATM" and "An Overview of Bitcoin ATM Regulation in Various Countries." Isa and her company have pleaded not guilty to the charges.
