According to Deep Tide TechFlow, Ohio resident Larry Dean Harmon was sentenced to 3 years of federal imprisonment for operating the dark web cryptocurrency mixing service Helix. From 2014 to 2017, Helix laundered over 354,000 Bitcoins, valued at approximately $311 million.
Harmon pleaded guilty in 2021 and, in addition to imprisonment, will face 3 years of supervised release and a $311 million fine. Law enforcement seized his assets, totaling over $400 million.
The Financial Crimes Enforcement Network of the United States imposed a $60 million civil fine on Harmon. The investigation showed that Harmon intentionally evaded obligations under the Bank Secrecy Act, making Helix an illegal trading platform. This Helix is not related to the DeFi platform Helix.
