US seeks forfeiture of $7.1M in crypto from oil and gas investment scam

US seeks forfeiture of $7.1M in crypto from oil and gas investment scam
Elliot Graves | REGULATIONS | EN | July 23, 2025

US Attorney’s Office Files Civil Action

The US is aiming to seize $7.1 million in cryptocurrency that was confiscated by Homeland Security in December. The funds are linked to an alleged fraudulent oil and gas investment scheme that reportedly raked in $97 million between June 2022 and July 2024. The Seattle US Attorney’s Office announced on Tuesday that it had filed a civil action to pursue the forfeiture of a portion of the ill-gotten gains from the scam.

Money Laundering through Crypto Accounts

Acting US Attorney for Seattle, Teal Luthy Miller, revealed that the perpetrators of the fraud attempted to launder the stolen money through various cryptocurrency accounts. The individuals involved in the scheme, who are said to be residing in Russia and Nigeria, used victims’ funds to purchase crypto and transferred a portion of the funds to exchanges in their respective countries. One person has been charged with facilitating money laundering for transnational criminal organizations.

Investors Lured into Fake Investment Scheme

The Justice Department alleged that investors were enticed to participate in the investment scheme under the false pretense of profiting from the purchase of oil tank storage facilities. However, after sending their money, the victims were left in the dark as those behind the scheme ceased communication. Prosecutors have identified victims who were defrauded of $17.9 million and anticipate more individuals coming forward as victims of the alleged scam.

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