Chinese intelligence agents reportedly paid off a double agent working for the FBI to acquire details on a case pursued by law enforcement against a multinational corporation.
- According to a statement by the Justice Department, two Chinese intelligence agents sought to pay a U.S. intelligence operative $61,000 in bitcoin.
- U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland noted in the press conference that announced the arrest of the two agents, “The Justice Department will not tolerate attempts by any foreign power to undermine the rule of law upon which our democracy is based…”
- According to the Justice Department, the operation started in 2019 when the two intelligence operatives contacted a federal agent who was also a double agent. Guochun He, also known as “Dong He” and “Jacky He,” and Zheng Wang, also known as “Zen Wang,” are accused of wanting to steal documents and other information in the Eastern District of New York U.S. Attorney’s Office.
- Charges brought by the Justice Department include a plot to act as an unregistered agent of a foreign state and conspiracy to repatriate PRC nationals forcefully.
See Related: The Use Of Crypto For Crimes Is An ‘Emerging Threat’ Says Australian Police
Bitcoin Crime Usage
- Regulators have long used bitcoin in criminal activity as a stick, and authorities throughout the globe have used such instances to push for the outlawing of digital assets and cryptocurrencies.
- U.S. authorities have increased their efforts in 2022 to stop using cryptocurrencies in money laundering and other illegal acts, including prohibiting American residents from utilizing the Ethereum coin mixing service Tornado Cash.
See Related: War On Code – Tornado Cash Developer Alexey Pertsev Arrested
