Alexander Vinnik is none other than the co-founder of the BTC-e crypto exchange. Currently under legal proceedings, he is serving his sentence in California. However, we know that he and his lawyer have been working for several months on a possible exit plan: an exchange of prisoners.
The Alexander Vinnik case
Alexander Vinnik is a Russian national charged with money laundering by American justice. Specifically, it is accused of facilitating various illicit activities. This includes :
- ransomware attacks,
- identity theft schemes,
- drug traffic.
That same year, US authorities seized and shut down his crypto exchange company: BTC-e. Alexander Vinnik is arrested in Greece at the request of the American authorities. He is then extradited to France. The verdict : 5 years in prison for money laundering.
BTC-e co-founder returns to Greece to serve his sentences. Once again, he is extradited to California. It is still there until today.
In September 2022, the United States wanted trade Alexander Vinnik for Brittney Griner. This is a professional basketball player imprisoned in Russia for drug trafficking. Unfortunately, the exchange did not go as planned. Brittney Griner was freed in exchange for Viktor Bout, a Russian arms dealer.
A new exit plan via a new prisoner exchange
According to information published by the wall street journalAlexander Vinnik had pleaded not guilty charges against him. He had even denied his involvement in any wrongdoing related to his crypto exchange.
But a turnaround (or not!). At a recent court hearing, one of his lawyers offered an argument forcing Vinnik to answer the charges against him. Above all, he had to plead in favor of an exchange of prisoners. Vinnik’s lawyer also stated that discussions between the two countries (the United States and Russia) are ongoing on a possible exchange of prisoners.
As the United States still demands the release of Whelan and Gershkovich (both arrested for espionage), the exchange could be made between Vinnik and these two detainees. To be continued…
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