SANTA ANA, Calif.—U.S. prosecutors have indicted the defunct exchange BTC-e and its suspected operator, Alexander Vinnik, for civil penalties of more than $100 million.
According to the court documents filed at the Northern District of California, the exchange’s operator has been charged with 17 counts of money laundering and two counts of engaging in unlawful monetary transactions, Finance Magnates reported.
In addition, both the exchange and Vinnik were previously charged with an additional count of operating an unlawful money services business and one count conspiracy to commit money laundering.
Filled by the U.S. Department of the Treasury, the prosecutors are now claiming $88.6 million in civil penalties, with an additional $12 million as interests and costs, Finance Magnates reported.