The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Georgia has announced the successful forfeiture, liquidation, and return of approximately $84,327.50 to a victim of cryptocurrency theft. The action was completed through a civil asset forfeiture process.
Margaret E. Heap, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia, stated: “The Asset Forfeiture Unit of the U.S. Attorney’s Office, in coordination with the FBI and the Department of Justice’s Money Laundering, Narcotics and Forfeiture Section, worked diligently to locate, seize, and forfeit these funds, and thereafter, return money to the victim. This case demonstrates my office’s commitment to helping victims of crime. By using civil asset forfeiture, we can expeditiously recover as much stolen money as possible and return this money to victims. Although it can be difficult to come forward and admit that you were a victim of a crime, we stand ready to help you to the fullest extent possible. The U.S. Attorney’s Office will work with the victims in these cases and with the Department of Justice’s Money Laundering, Narcotics and Forfeiture Section to properly return forfeited assets to eligible victims. If you think you have been a victim of a cybercrime, file a detailed complaint with the Internet Crime Complaint Center at www.ic3.gov.”
According to information from court documents filed in this case, in October 2024 a resident from Richmond Hill noticed unauthorized transactions involving their cryptocurrency account that resulted in about $124,000 being stolen. After discovering these illegal transactions, the individual reported them both locally and to federal authorities.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation led an inquiry into the matter by tracing most of the stolen digital currency through various channels—including international actors located in Cambodia—and ultimately seized those assets with assistance from the Asset Forfeiture Unit.
Earlier this year in Savannah federal court proceedings led to formal forfeiture of those assets; following liquidation processes net proceeds were returned directly back to the affected party.
Paul Brown, Special Agent in Charge at FBI Atlanta commented: “The FBI is committed to pursuing justice for victims of cybercrime, no matter where the trail leads. In this case our agents used advanced investigative techniques to trace stolen cryptocurrency across international borders and recover funds that otherwise might have been lost forever. We’ll continue working alongside our partners to identify cybercriminals seize their illegal gains and restore assets to those they’ve harmed.”
Victims or individuals who suspect they may have experienced similar crimes are encouraged by officials involved in this case—including both law enforcement agencies—to submit detailed reports via www.ic3.gov.
Senior Litigation Counsel J. Bishop Ravenel represented the United States during legal proceedings related specifically toward asset recovery efforts.
