Investigators from the Investigative Committee of Russia have initiated a criminal case against the creators of the anonymous payment system UAPS and the cryptocurrency exchange Cryptex. The individuals are facing charges for organizing a criminal community, participating in it, unlawful access to computer information, illegal turnover of payments, and illegal banking activities. The case has been filed under specific articles of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation.
The investigation reveals that in 2013, the offenders, with a background in banking, formed a criminal community with the aim of personal enrichment and criminal activities. They developed an infrastructure that included an anonymous payment system, a cryptocurrency exchange, and 33 online services designed for unlawful banking operations, illegal payment turnover, and unauthorized access to protected computer information.
The community members engaged in illicit activities such as currency exchanges, cryptocurrency transactions, cash transactions, and the sale of bank cards and personal accounts. The clientele primarily consisted of cybercriminals and hackers seeking to legitimize their earnings through these services.
By 2023, the cash flow through these illicit services had exceeded 112 billion rubles, resulting in a total criminal income of 3.7 billion rubles. The investigation led to 148 searches being conducted across 14 regions in Russia, leading to the arrest of 96 suspects who have been transported to Moscow for further legal procedures.
According to Irina Volk, the official representative of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, the detained individuals not only established an anonymous cryptocurrency service but also issued their own banking cards and provided online account access. The operation to apprehend the members of the criminal group was carried out by Russian Ministry of Internal Affairs personnel with the assistance of technical experts and operatives.
The Investigative Committee has shared images from the searches, revealing large sums of cash, high-end vehicles including Tesla and Mercedes, a helicopter, and a Cybertruck. One of the accused individuals, Sergey Ivanov, a Russian citizen, had previously been subject to US sanctions for involvement in money laundering, as per reports by Interfax.