**News Flash: Crypto Scam Exposed in NYC**

Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg has announced criminal charges against Michael Lauchlan for running a fraudulent cryptocurrency asset recovery business. Lauchlan, also known as Max Handler, allegedly scammed customers through his platform, Coin Dispute Network, which promised to trace and recover lost crypto assets. Instead, it stole fees and Ether (ETH) from users.

Authorities arrested Lauchlan in Las Vegas on July 9, and seized the firm's website in June. The DA's office recovered around $14,000 in user funds. Over 175 people were reportedly affected by the scam. This case is part of broader efforts by New York authorities to crack down on crypto-related fraud.