Harmon gets a three-year sentence, in addition to forfeiture of assets up to $400 million, for his role in laundering over $300 million<\/a> worth of Bitcoin tokens for darknet\u2019s drug markets.<\/p>\n According to US authorities, Harmon used the platform to help launder the drug dealers\u2019 funds, facilitating the transfer of over 350,000 BTCs from 2014 to 2017. He gets a three-year sentence<\/a>, a relatively light serving time, but faces a forfeiture money judgment worth $311,145,854 and forfeiture of all seized assets amounting to at least $400 million.<\/p>\n According to court documents, Harmon operated Helix from 2014 to 2017 and, during this time, laundered up to $300 million worth of Bitcoins on behalf of drug dealers. After hearing the case and with Harmon\u2019s guilty plea, US District Judge Beryl Howell sentenced Harmon to three years of jail time.<\/p>\n In addition to prison time, Harmon will serve a three-year supervised release, pay the court up to $311 million, and surrender all seized assets, including cryptocurrencies and real estate, amounting to at least $400 million.<\/p>\n An Ohio man was sentenced to 3 years in prison and ordered to forfeit over $400M in assets for his operating of Helix, a darknet cryptocurrency “mixer.” @DOJCrimDiv<\/a> #FollowTheMoney<\/a> #IRSCI<\/a>https:\/\/t.co\/4IRC4fDbPf<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 IRS Criminal Investigation (@IRS_CI) November 15, 2024<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n Helix<\/a> was a popular crypto-mixing service on the darknet and a favorite destination of drug dealers who wanted to launder their money. According to a Department of Justice press release, the mixing site processed 354,468 BTCs, or approximately $311,145,854, during transactions.<\/p>\n Records show that the bulk of these funds are for darknet drug markets, and some are for customers based in the District of Columbia. Harmon collected a percentage of these transactions as fees and commissions for running the service.<\/p>\n Harmon ensured that Helix was linked to Grams, a darknet search engine<\/a>, and worked with most darknet markets as part of the laundering operations. Harmon used his proprietary API to integrate Helix into the darknet markets\u2019 BTC withdrawal system.<\/p>\n He also customized the API to make it more compatible with other markets. Last August 18th, 2021, Harmon submitted a guilty plea for conspiracy to commit money laundering.<\/p>\nA ‘Lighter Sentence’ Over Money Laundering Case<\/strong><\/h2>\n
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Helix: Harmon\u2019s Role In Laundering Drug Money<\/strong><\/h2>\n