Recent developments in the long-standing saga of the OneCoin cryptocurrency scam have brought another figure to justice.
Irina Dilkinska, formerly the head of Legal and Compliance at OneCoin, has been sentenced to four years in prison by Damian Williams, the United States (US) Attorney for the Southern District of New York.
This verdict, delivered by US District Judge Edgardo Ramos, marks a significant step in holding individuals accountable for their roles in the scam, which inflicted substantial financial losses on investors.
As a key figure within the organisation, Irina's involvement in the fraudulent scheme was deemed a serious violation of legal and ethical standards.
Attorney Damian added:
"Rather than upholding the law and embracing her position as the Head of Legal and Compliance, she facilitated and committed money laundering, aiding in the exploitation of millions of victims."
OneCoin's Scam
OneCoin, founded by Ruja Ignatova and Karl Sebastian Greenwood in 2014, initially presented itself as a legitimate cryptocurrency project based in Sofia, Bulgaria.
However, it quickly unravelled into a massive pyramid scheme, defrauding investors of billions of dollars.
Irina's guilty plea to charges of wire fraud and money laundering underscores the severity of her actions.
Meanwhile, earlier in 2024, another individual, Mark Scott, received a 10-year prison sentence for his role in orchestrating fake investment schemes to launder proceeds from the OneCoin scam.
Karl is currently serving a 20-year sentence for his central role in the scheme, while Ruja Ignatova, known as the CryptoQueen, remains at large.
However, law enforcement agencies continue their efforts to apprehend her, with the FBI offering a substantial reward for information leading to her arrest.
The pursuit of justice in the OneCoin case serves as a stark reminder of the authorities' determination to hold accountable all those involved in perpetrating financial crimes, regardless of their whereabouts.