The US Department of Justice (DOJ) has filed charges against two Europeans for their participation in the North Korean blockchain conference in 2019.
The Department of Justice has issued a “superseding indictment” against Alejandro Cao de Benos, a Spanish citizen, and Christopher Emms, a United Kingdom citizen. Cao de Benos and Emms are accused of “conspiring to violate United States sanctions” on North Korea by providing unlawful blockchain services, according to the DOJ.
North Korean officials, according to Emms, should focus on blockchain technology because it allows them to “move money across any jurisdiction in the world regardless of what restrictions or penalties are imposed on any country.”
North Korea has been sanctioned for its desire to expand its nuclear arsenal, and Emms’ presentation is said to have played a role in the North Korean blockchain conference in 2019. According to the DOJ, Emms and Cao de Benos played key roles in the conference.
Cao de Benos first enlisted the help of Virgil Griffith, an Ethereum developer, by promising him that his passport would not be stamped. The three gave a presentation to North Korean officials that included intentions to establish “specific smart contracts” and sanctions-evasion tactics.
After pleading guilty to charges of conspiring to breach North Korean sanctions, Virgil Griffith was sentenced to 63 months in prison for his role in the meeting. Griffith was sentenced to prison as well as a $100,000 fine.
Emms and Cao de Benos may face harsher sentences as a result of Griffith’s indictment. The couple is still at large, and because they are not citizens of the United States, there may be some legal arguing to be done.
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