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Every state-changing event for DOJ $25M Pig Butchering Seizure (July 2026): moderation decisions on community submissions, plus corrections and updates from the news pipeline. URL-based decisions are designed to carry three independent witnesses — the original source, an Internet Archive snapshot, and a Solana memo signed by our publicly-disclosed publisher key. Archive coverage is still being backfilled, so each decision below reports its own snapshot status rather than assuming one exists.

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   2026-07-26 23:13:02Z
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   {"actor":"system:backfill","investigation_id":"39e9cb8d-345c-4638-a9c8-9d2082163200","kind":"publish","page_slug":"doj-25m-pig-butchering-seizure-july-2026","published_at":"2026-07-26T23:13:02.804Z","sequence_num":1,"snapshot":{"content_type":"investigation","entity_name":"DOJ $25M Pig Butchering Seizure (July 2026)","sections":[{"content":"Five civil forfeiture complaints were filed on July 21, 2026, in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia (case numbers 26-cv-2539 through 26-cv-2543) by the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Columbia in coordination with the U.S. Secret Service. The complaints collectively seek recovery of more than $25 million in USDT held across multiple wallet addresses. No individual defendants are named in any of the five complaints; the actions proceed in rem against the cryptocurrency itself under 18 U.S.C. § 981(a)(1)(C) (proceeds of specified unlawful activity) and 18 U.S.C. § 981(a)(1)(A) (property involved in money laundering), with underlying predicates of wire fraud (18 U.S.C. § 1343) and money laundering (18 U.S.C. § 1956). Tether voluntarily froze the targeted addresses at law enforcement request; freeze dates ranged from same-day action to approximately 20 months before the complaint filing. Venue is established in the District of Columbia on the basis that Tether controls the relevant addresses from El Salvador. The government must establish its case by a preponderance of the evidence under the Civil Asset Forfeiture Reform Act (CAFRA). Potential claimants have approximately 35 days from direct notice or 60 days from publication on forfeiture.gov to contest the action.","heading":"Civil Forfeiture Complaints — July 21, 2026","severity":"critical","sources":[{"credibility":1,"name":"DOJ Press Release: Investigations into Cryptocurrency Scams Result in Seizure of More Than $25 Million","type":"regulatory","url":"https://www.justice.gov/usao-dc/pr/investigations-cryptocurrency-scams-result-seizure-more-25-million"},{"credibility":2,"name":"Armstrong & Bradylyons PLLC: DOJ Crypto Forfeiture 25 Million — Five Civil Complaints Case Analysis","type":"other","url":"https://www.armstrongbradylyons.com/library/doj-crypto-forfeiture-25-million"},{"credibility":2,"name":"Decrypt: US Seizes More Than $25M in Crypto Tied to Investment and Romance Scams","type":"news_article","url":"https://decrypt.co/374049/us-seizes-more-than-25m-in-crypto-tied-to-investment-and-romance-scams"}]},{"content":"Case 26-cv-2539 (Zoomex Spoof): Seeks $2,389,778.77 USDT across six addresses. Two primary victims, one a Montgomery County, Maryland resident, were defrauded through counterfeit websites operating under the domains zoomex-net.com and zoomex-pay.com — impersonating the legitimate exchange Zoomex. More than 99 percent of funds in the targeted addresses trace to these two victims. Aliases cited in investigative materials include Angelina Kovalonka and Ronald Hanson. Addresses were frozen in July 2025.\n\nCase 26-cv-2540 (MicMarkets Platform): Seeks $1,766,583 USDT across four addresses. Seventeen confirmed victims identified; approximately 65.9 percent of funds traced to confirmed victims. Aliases cited include Ambrose Andersson and Leon Martin. Addresses were frozen in November 2024.\n\nCase 26-cv-2541 (Recovery Fraud): Seeks $284,903.78 USDT across two addresses. Two British national victims; one suffered initial fraud losses exceeding £2 million, the second £12,000. The alleged secondary fraud involved perpetrators posing as asset-recovery agents. This case was referred to U.S. authorities by the UK National Crime Agency in January 2026.\n\nCase 26-cv-2542 ($78 Million Network): Seeks $10,404,905 USDT across three addresses. On-chain analysis identified the broader network as having received approximately $78 million in deposits between January 2023 and July 2026. Roughly 243 suspected or confirmed victim transactions identified, representing approximately 11 percent attribution of funds to identified victims. Platforms associated with this network include alleged fake investment sites operating under the names BitaGold, SteemFly, Smart Labs, and Bdswg.com. Canadian authorities provided the initial tip leading to this investigation. Addresses were frozen in January 2025.\n\nCase 26-cv-2543 (National Capital Region): Seeks $1,230,899.74 USDT across six addresses. Blockchain tracing attributed approximately 86 percent of funds in one primary address to victim deposits. Addresses were frozen on May 27, 2026.","heading":"Individual Case Breakdown","severity":"critical","sources":[{"credibility":2,"name":"Armstrong & Bradylyons PLLC: DOJ Crypto Forfeiture 25 Million — Five Civil Complaints Case Analysis","type":"other","url":"https://www.armstrongbradylyons.com/library/doj-crypto-forfeiture-25-million"},{"credibility":2,"name":"CryptoTimes: DOJ Moves to Seize $25M in Crypto From Global Scam Networks","type":"news_article","url":"https://www.cryptotimes.io/2026/07/22/doj-moves-to-seize-25m-in-crypto-from-global-scam-networks/"}]},{"content":"Pig butchering (Chinese: sha zhu pan) is a long-duration confidence fraud in which perpetrators establish sustained personal relationships with targets — typically via unsolicited contact on dating apps, social media, or SMS — before steering victims toward counterfeit cryptocurrency trading platforms. The scheme name derives from the practice of fattening a pig before slaughter: victims are encouraged to make progressively larger deposits while observing fabricated gains on fraudulent dashboards, before being blocked from withdrawals and ultimately abandoned. In the July 2026 complaints, funds were traced through hundreds of intermediary wallet addresses where they were commingled with proceeds from other victims before reaching consolidation addresses. IP addresses connected to the operations were traced to China, Malaysia, and Cambodia. The compounds operating these schemes are documented as relying on trafficked workers coerced under threat of violence to maintain daily contact quotas with victims. The Chainalysis 2026 Crypto Crime Report found that AI-enabled pig-butchering operations generated 4.5 times more revenue per operation than traditional methods, with AI-linked scam operations averaging $3.2 million each compared to $719,000 for non-AI operations.","heading":"Fraud Methodology — Pig Butchering","severity":"high","sources":[{"credibility":2,"name":"Chainalysis 2026 Crypto Crime Report — AI Makes Each Attack 4.5x More Profitable","type":"research","url":"https://scamwatchhq.com/chainalysis-2026-crypto-crime-report-17-billion-impersonation-ai/"},{"credibility":2,"name":"Decrypt: US Seizes More Than $25M in Crypto Tied to Investment and Romance Scams","type":"news_article","url":"https://decrypt.co/374049/us-seizes-more-than-25m-in-crypto-tied-to-investment-and-romance-scams"},{"credibility":2,"name":"Crypto Economy: US Cracks Down on Crypto Scam Networks With $25 Million Asset Seizure","type":"news_article","url":"https://crypto-economy.com/us-cracks-down-on-crypto-scam-networks-with-25-million-asset-seizure/"}]},{"content":"The Scam Center Strike Force was officially established on November 12, 2025, by U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia Jeanine Ferris Pirro, in partnership with the FBI, U.S. Secret Service, IRS Criminal Investigation, Homeland Security Investigations, and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service. The Strike Force was created to dismantle the infrastructure of Southeast Asian cryptocurrency investment fraud linked to transnational criminal organizations, with a stated focus on asset recovery and victim restitution. By June 18, 2026, the Strike Force had restrained more than $832 million in cryptocurrency from similar operations. The July 21, 2026 filing represents the latest in a series of civil forfeiture actions under this initiative. On June 3, 2026, DOJ announced a Disruption Week in coordination with private sector partners including Apple, Coinbase, Google, Meta, Microsoft, and TRM Labs, during which more than 1.4 million social media and email accounts were interrupted and seven individuals were arrested in Thailand.","heading":"Scam Center Strike Force — Enforcement Context","severity":"medium","sources":[{"credibility":1,"name":"DOJ OPA: Scam Center Strike Force Announces Results of U.S. and Private Industry Disruption Week","type":"regulatory","url":"https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/scam-center-strike-force-announces-results-us-private-industry-disruption-week"},{"credibility":2,"name":"Foley and Lardner: D.C. U.S. Attorney's Office Seizes on Crypto Crime Enforcement Opportunity with Announcement of Strike Force","type":"other","url":"https://www.foley.com/insights/publications/2025/11/d-c-u-s-attorneys-office-seizes-on-crypto-crime-enforcement-opportunity-with-announcement-of-strike-force/"},{"credibility":1,"name":"IRS Criminal Investigation: DC Scam Center Strike Force Seizures Top $580 Million","type":"regulatory","url":"https://www.irs.gov/zh-hans/compliance/criminal-investigation/dc-scam-center-strike-force-seizures-of-cryptocurrency-from-chinese-transnational-criminals-tops-580-million"}]},{"content":"The July 2026 civil forfeiture complaints are part of a documented 2026 enforcement surge targeting pig-butchering infrastructure.\n\n$61 Million USDT Seizure (North Carolina, February 2026): On approximately February 24, 2026, the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of North Carolina, led by Homeland Security Investigations Raleigh with support from TRM Labs and Tether, announced the seizure of $61 million in USDT traced to pig-butchering scams. The action originated from a complaint filed by a North Carolina resident. TRM Labs described this as one of the largest single confiscations of USDT connected to romance-based crypto fraud in U.S. history.\n\nOperation First Light / Dubai Operation (April 29, 2026): A joint operation led by Dubai Police, the FBI, and China's Ministry of Public Security resulted in 276 arrests (275 in Dubai, one additional by Thai Royal Police), the closure of nine scam centers, seizure of 503 fake investment websites, and restraint of $701.96 million in cryptocurrency. Named defendants in related U.S. indictments include Thet Min Nyi (alias Pixy), Wiliang Awang, Andreas Chandra, and Lisa Mariam. Organizations targeted include Ko Thet Company, Sanduo Group, and Giant Company. A Telegram channel with more than 6,000 followers used to recruit forced-labor workers was seized — described by authorities as a first-of-its-kind action.\n\nOperation Atlantic (March 16, 2026): Joint action by the U.S. Secret Service, UK National Crime Agency, Ontario Provincial Police, and Ontario Securities Commission targeting approval phishing scams. More than 20,000 cryptocurrency wallet addresses were identified, $12 million in stolen funds frozen, and $33 million in investment fraud-linked assets identified.\n\nShunda Compound Strike (April 23, 2026): Scam Center Strike Force operation targeting the Min Let Pan compound in Burma. Chinese nationals Huang Xingshan (alias Ah Zhe) and Jiang Wen Jie (alias Jiang Nan) were indicted on charges of managing the compound. 503 fake investment websites were seized and $701.96 million in cryptocurrency was restrained.\n\nFBI Operation Level Up: A proactive victim-intervention initiative launched in January 2024. As of April 2026, the program had directly contacted 8,935 potential victims (77 percent of whom were unaware they were being defrauded), prevented an estimated $562 million in losses, and referred 93 victims for suicide crisis intervention.","heading":"Parallel 2026 Enforcement Actions","severity":"high","sources":[{"credibility":2,"name":"TRM Labs: DOJ Seizes $61 Million Tied to Pig Butchering Scam in North Carolina","type":"research","url":"https://www.trmlabs.com/resources/blog/doj-seizes-usd-61-million-tied-to-pig-butchering-scam-in-north-carolina"},{"credibility":2,"name":"The Block: North Carolina Prosecutors Seize $61 Million in USDT Tied to Pig Butchering Scam","type":"news_article","url":"https://www.theblock.co/post/391160/prosecutors-seize-61-million-usdt-scam"},{"credibility":2,"name":"Cybernews: FBI, Dubai Police Bust 9 Crypto Scam Centers, 276 Arrested","type":"news_article","url":"https://cybernews.com/cybercrime/fbi-raid-nine-crypto-scam-centers-victims-562-million/"},{"credibility":2,"name":"CryptoTimes: 2026 Pig Butchering Crypto Scam Crackdowns","type":"news_article","url":"https://www.cryptotimes.io/2026/05/05/2026-pig-butchering-crypto-scam-crackdowns/"},{"credibility":1,"name":"FBI: Operation Level Up — How the FBI Is Saving Victims from Cryptocurrency Investment Fraud","type":"regulatory","url":"https://www.fbi.gov/news/stories/operation-level-up-how-the-fbi-is-saving-victims-from-cryptocurrency-investment-fraud"},{"credibility":2,"name":"Yahoo Finance / The Cooldown: FBI-Led Takedown Shatters Pig Butchering Crypto Scam Network","type":"news_article","url":"https://www.thecooldown.com/green-business/international-crackdown-on-cryptocurrency-scams/"}]},{"content":"On April 23, 2026, the U.S. Treasury Department's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) sanctioned Cambodian Senator and businessman Kok An along with 28 associated individuals and entities under an executive order signed in March 2026 authorizing sanctions against foreign-backed fraud and cybercrime networks targeting Americans. Kok An's flagship company, Crown Resorts, owns casinos, resorts, and hotels across Cambodian border cities including Poipet, Sihanoukville, and Bavet. OFAC alleged these Crown Resort properties were converted into compounds where criminal organizations ran digital asset investment fraud using trafficked workers coerced to operate pig-butchering scams under threat of violence. Additional sanctioned individuals include Rithy Raksmei (K99 Culture and Media Co Ltd), Luo Hong (founder of Bolai), Aik Paung, and Sai Aung Linn. Sanctioned entities include Crown Resorts, Anco Brothers Co Ltd, K99 Group, Bolai (Brilliancy Sihanoukville Investment and Development Co Ltd), Heng Feng Cambodia Bank plc, Xihu Resort Hotel Co Ltd, Heng Feng Group Co Ltd, Xing Tian Di Co Ltd, and Nan Tian International Hotel Co Ltd, plus 13 additional affiliated companies.\n\nSeparately, Huione Group (Cambodia) was the subject of a FinCEN Section 311 final rule effective November 17, 2025, barring U.S. financial institutions from conducting business with the group. FinCEN determined Huione Group laundered at least $4 billion in illicit proceeds between August 2021 and January 2025, including proceeds from DPRK-linked cyber heists and pig-butchering operations. OFAC also sanctioned Philippines-based Funnull Technology and two cryptocurrency wallets linked to Huione Group for alleged facilitation of scams resulting in more than $200 million in victim losses.","heading":"Sanctioned Entities and Individuals — Southeast Asian Infrastructure","severity":"critical","sources":[{"credibility":1,"name":"U.S. Department of the Treasury: Treasury Sanctions Cambodian Senator Kok An and Scam Center Network","type":"regulatory","url":"https://home.treasury.gov/news/press-releases/sb0469"},{"credibility":2,"name":"TRM Labs: OFAC Sanctions Cambodian Senator and Scam Center Network","type":"research","url":"https://www.trmlabs.com/resources/blog/ofac-sanctions-cambodian-senator-and-scam-center-network-targeting-americans-with-digital-asset-fraud"},{"credibility":2,"name":"Unchained Crypto: Treasury Sanctions Cambodian Senator Kok An Over Pig-Butchering Crypto Scam Network","type":"news_article","url":"https://unchainedcrypto.com/treasury-sanctions-cambodian-senator-kok-an-over-pig-butchering-crypto-scam-network/"},{"credibility":1,"name":"Federal Register: Imposition of Special Measure Regarding Huione Group","type":"regulatory","url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2025/10/16/2025-19571/imposition-of-special-measure-regarding-huione-group-as-a-foreign-financial-institution-of-primary"},{"credibility":2,"name":"CoinDesk: U.S. Sanctions Funnull for Role in $200M Pig Butchering Scam, Huione-Linked Crypto Wallets","type":"news_article","url":"https://www.coindesk.com/business/2025/05/30/u-s-sanctions-funnull-for-role-in-pig-butchering-scam-huione-linked-crypto-wallets"}]},{"content":"The Chainalysis 2026 Crypto Crime Report estimated that approximately $17 billion was stolen through cryptocurrency scams and fraud in 2025. The FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) recorded $7.2 billion in investment fraud losses in 2025. TRM Labs' 2026 Crypto Crime Report estimated approximately $35 billion was directed to fraud schemes in 2025, with pig-butchering scams representing a significant portion. The FBI estimated that Americans lost at least $10 billion in 2024 to Southeast Asia-based scam operations, representing a 66 percent increase over the prior year. Chainalysis also found that impersonation scams grew 1,400 percent year-over-year in 2025, and that the average scam payment increased to $2,764 from $782 the prior year, a 253 percent increase. AI-enabled pig-butchering operations were found to generate 4.5 times more revenue per operation than non-AI operations, averaging $3.2 million per AI-linked scam versus $719,000 for traditional operations. The Scam Center Strike Force had recovered more than $832 million in digital assets since its November 2025 inception as of the time of the July 2026 filing.","heading":"Scale of Losses and Industry Data","severity":"high","sources":[{"credibility":2,"name":"Chainalysis 2026 Crypto Crime Report — $17 Billion Lost to Scams","type":"research","url":"https://finance.yahoo.com/news/ai-impersonations-drove-crypto-scam-231824910.html"},{"credibility":2,"name":"ScamWatchHQ: Chainalysis 2026 Crypto Crime Report — AI Makes Each Attack 4.5x More Profitable","type":"research","url":"https://scamwatchhq.com/chainalysis-2026-crypto-crime-report-17-billion-impersonation-ai/"},{"credibility":1,"name":"Forbes: Powered By AI, Crypto Fraud Is Now A $14 Billion Criminal Industry","type":"news_article","url":"https://www.forbes.com/sites/the-wiretap/2026/01/13/powered-by-ai-crypto-fraud-is-now-a-14-billion-criminal-industry/"},{"credibility":1,"name":"IRS Criminal Investigation: DC Scam Center Strike Force Seizures Top $580 Million","type":"regulatory","url":"https://www.irs.gov/zh-hans/compliance/criminal-investigation/dc-scam-center-strike-force-seizures-of-cryptocurrency-from-chinese-transnational-criminals-tops-580-million"}]},{"content":"As of July 26, 2026, the five civil forfeiture complaints name no individual defendants and do not publicly identify the operators of the fraudulent platforms. The complaints reference alleged fake platforms under the names BitaGold, SteemFly, Smart Labs, and Bdswg.com in connection with Case 26-cv-2542, and counterfeit Zoomex-branded domains (zoomex-net.com, zoomex-pay.com) in Case 26-cv-2539. If the cases proceed to unsealing of supporting affidavits or if related criminal indictments are filed, additional named entities and individuals may become identifiable. AVOID.NET will monitor Department of Justice press releases and PACER filings under case numbers 26-cv-2539 through 26-cv-2543 for developments.","heading":"Potential Future Investigation Targets","severity":"medium","sources":[{"credibility":2,"name":"Armstrong & Bradylyons PLLC: DOJ Crypto Forfeiture 25 Million — Five Civil Complaints Case Analysis","type":"other","url":"https://www.armstrongbradylyons.com/library/doj-crypto-forfeiture-25-million"},{"credibility":2,"name":"PYMNTS: Feds Move to Seize $25 Million in Crypto From Scammers","type":"news_article","url":"https://www.pymnts.com/cryptocurrency/2026/feds-move-to-seize-25-million-in-crypto-from-scammers/"}]}],"sources_used":[{"credibility":1,"name":"DOJ Press Release: Investigations into Cryptocurrency Scams Result in Seizure of More Than $25 Million","type":"regulatory","url":"https://www.justice.gov/usao-dc/pr/investigations-cryptocurrency-scams-result-seizure-more-25-million"},{"credibility":1,"name":"DOJ OPA: Scam Center Strike Force Announces Results of U.S. and Private Industry Disruption Week","type":"regulatory","url":"https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/scam-center-strike-force-announces-results-us-private-industry-disruption-week"},{"credibility":1,"name":"U.S. Department of the Treasury: Treasury Sanctions Cambodian Senator Kok An and Scam Center Network","type":"regulatory","url":"https://home.treasury.gov/news/press-releases/sb0469"},{"credibility":1,"name":"Federal Register: Imposition of Special Measure Regarding Huione Group","type":"regulatory","url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2025/10/16/2025-19571/imposition-of-special-measure-regarding-huione-group-as-a-foreign-financial-institution-of-primary"},{"credibility":1,"name":"FBI: Operation Level Up — How the FBI Is Saving Victims from Cryptocurrency Investment Fraud","type":"regulatory","url":"https://www.fbi.gov/news/stories/operation-level-up-how-the-fbi-is-saving-victims-from-cryptocurrency-investment-fraud"},{"credibility":1,"name":"IRS Criminal Investigation: DC Scam Center Strike Force Seizures Top $580 Million","type":"regulatory","url":"https://www.irs.gov/zh-hans/compliance/criminal-investigation/dc-scam-center-strike-force-seizures-of-cryptocurrency-from-chinese-transnational-criminals-tops-580-million"},{"credibility":2,"name":"TRM Labs: DOJ Seizes $61 Million Tied to Pig Butchering Scam in North Carolina","type":"research","url":"https://www.trmlabs.com/resources/blog/doj-seizes-usd-61-million-tied-to-pig-butchering-scam-in-north-carolina"},{"credibility":2,"name":"TRM Labs: OFAC Sanctions Cambodian Senator and Scam Center Network","type":"research","url":"https://www.trmlabs.com/resources/blog/ofac-sanctions-cambodian-senator-and-scam-center-network-targeting-americans-with-digital-asset-fraud"},{"credibility":2,"name":"Armstrong & Bradylyons PLLC: DOJ Crypto Forfeiture 25 Million — Five Civil Complaints Case Analysis","type":"other","url":"https://www.armstrongbradylyons.com/library/doj-crypto-forfeiture-25-million"},{"credibility":2,"name":"Decrypt: US Seizes More Than $25M in Crypto Tied to Investment and Romance Scams","type":"news_article","url":"https://decrypt.co/374049/us-seizes-more-than-25m-in-crypto-tied-to-investment-and-romance-scams"},{"credibility":2,"name":"The Block: North Carolina Prosecutors Seize $61 Million in USDT Tied to Pig Butchering Scam","type":"news_article","url":"https://www.theblock.co/post/391160/prosecutors-seize-61-million-usdt-scam"},{"credibility":2,"name":"CoinDesk: U.S. Sanctions Funnull for Role in $200M Pig Butchering Scam, Huione-Linked Crypto Wallets","type":"news_article","url":"https://www.coindesk.com/business/2025/05/30/u-s-sanctions-funnull-for-role-in-pig-butchering-scam-huione-linked-crypto-wallets"},{"credibility":2,"name":"CryptoTimes: DOJ Moves to Seize $25M in Crypto From Global Scam Networks","type":"news_article","url":"https://www.cryptotimes.io/2026/07/22/doj-moves-to-seize-25m-in-crypto-from-global-scam-networks/"},{"credibility":2,"name":"CryptoTimes: 2026 Pig Butchering Crypto Scam Crackdowns","type":"news_article","url":"https://www.cryptotimes.io/2026/05/05/2026-pig-butchering-crypto-scam-crackdowns/"},{"credibility":2,"name":"Crypto Economy: US Cracks Down on Crypto Scam Networks With $25 Million Asset Seizure","type":"news_article","url":"https://crypto-economy.com/us-cracks-down-on-crypto-scam-networks-with-25-million-asset-seizure/"},{"credibility":2,"name":"Unchained Crypto: Treasury Sanctions Cambodian Senator Kok An Over Pig-Butchering Crypto Scam Network","type":"news_article","url":"https://unchainedcrypto.com/treasury-sanctions-cambodian-senator-kok-an-over-pig-butchering-crypto-scam-network/"},{"credibility":2,"name":"Chainalysis: U.S. Crackdown on Southeast Asian Crypto Scam Centers","type":"research","url":"https://www.chainalysis.com/blog/asian-scam-centers-crypto-fraud-april-2026/"},{"credibility":1,"name":"Forbes: Powered By AI, Crypto Fraud Is Now A $14 Billion Criminal Industry","type":"news_article","url":"https://www.forbes.com/sites/the-wiretap/2026/01/13/powered-by-ai-crypto-fraud-is-now-a-14-billion-criminal-industry/"},{"credibility":2,"name":"ScamWatchHQ: Chainalysis 2026 Crypto Crime Report — AI Makes Each Attack 4.5x More Profitable","type":"research","url":"https://scamwatchhq.com/chainalysis-2026-crypto-crime-report-17-billion-impersonation-ai/"},{"credibility":2,"name":"PYMNTS: Feds Move to Seize $25 Million in Crypto From Scammers","type":"news_article","url":"https://www.pymnts.com/cryptocurrency/2026/feds-move-to-seize-25-million-in-crypto-from-scammers/"},{"credibility":2,"name":"Foley and Lardner: D.C. U.S. Attorney's Office Announces Scam Center Strike Force","type":"other","url":"https://www.foley.com/insights/publications/2025/11/d-c-u-s-attorneys-office-seizes-on-crypto-crime-enforcement-opportunity-with-announcement-of-strike-force/"}],"summary":"On July 21, 2026, the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Columbia, operating through the Scam Center Strike Force, filed five civil forfeiture complaints targeting more than $25 million in USDT linked to international pig-butchering fraud rings operating primarily from Southeast Asia. The complaints identify hundreds of U.S. and Canadian victims across romance scams, fake cryptocurrency investment platforms, and fraudulent asset-recovery services, with no individual defendants named. This action is part of a broader 2026 enforcement surge that includes a $61 million USDT seizure in North Carolina, Treasury sanctions against Cambodian Senator Kok An and his Crown Resorts compound network, and a Dubai-led international operation resulting in 276 arrests and $701 million frozen.","timeline":[{"date":"2024-01-01","event":"FBI launches Operation Level Up, a proactive victim-intervention initiative to identify and contact active pig-butchering victims before losses are completed.","source":"FBI official page","source_url":"https://www.fbi.gov/how-we-can-help-you/victim-services/national-crimes-and-victim-resources/operation-level-up"},{"date":"2024-11-01","event":"Addresses later named in Case 26-cv-2540 (MicMarkets Platform) are frozen by Tether at law enforcement request.","source":"Armstrong & Bradylyons PLLC case analysis","source_url":"https://www.armstrongbradylyons.com/library/doj-crypto-forfeiture-25-million"},{"date":"2025-01-01","event":"Addresses later named in Case 26-cv-2542 ($78 million network) are frozen by Tether at law enforcement request.","source":"Armstrong & Bradylyons PLLC case analysis","source_url":"https://www.armstrongbradylyons.com/library/doj-crypto-forfeiture-25-million"},{"date":"2025-05-01","event":"U.S. Treasury proposes Section 311 action against Huione Group for laundering at least $4 billion in illicit proceeds including pig-butchering proceeds.","source":"Elliptic blog","source_url":"https://www.elliptic.co/blog/us-treasury-takes-311-action-against-huione-group-what-this-means-us"},{"date":"2025-07-01","event":"Addresses later named in Case 26-cv-2539 (Zoomex Spoof) are frozen by Tether at law enforcement request.","source":"Armstrong & Bradylyons PLLC case analysis","source_url":"https://www.armstrongbradylyons.com/library/doj-crypto-forfeiture-25-million"},{"date":"2025-10-16","event":"FinCEN issues final Section 311 rule barring U.S. financial institutions from transacting with Huione Group, effective November 17, 2025.","source":"Federal Register","source_url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2025/10/16/2025-19571/imposition-of-special-measure-regarding-huione-group-as-a-foreign-financial-institution-of-primary"},{"date":"2025-11-12","event":"U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro officially launches the Scam Center Strike Force in the District of Columbia to target Southeast Asian cryptocurrency investment fraud.","source":"Foley and Lardner legal alert","source_url":"https://www.foley.com/insights/publications/2025/11/d-c-u-s-attorneys-office-seizes-on-crypto-crime-enforcement-opportunity-with-announcement-of-strike-force/"},{"date":"2026-01-01","event":"UK National Crime Agency refers the victims later named in Case 26-cv-2541 (Recovery Fraud) to U.S. authorities.","source":"Armstrong & Bradylyons PLLC case analysis","source_url":"https://www.armstrongbradylyons.com/library/doj-crypto-forfeiture-25-million"},{"date":"2026-02-24","event":"U.S. Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of North Carolina, led by HSI Raleigh and supported by TRM Labs and Tether, announces seizure of $61 million in USDT linked to pig-butchering scams.","source":"TRM Labs blog","source_url":"https://www.trmlabs.com/resources/blog/doj-seizes-usd-61-million-tied-to-pig-butchering-scam-in-north-carolina"},{"date":"2026-03-16","event":"Operation Atlantic: Joint U.S. Secret Service, UK NCA, Ontario Provincial Police, and Ontario Securities Commission action identifies 20,000+ wallet addresses, freezes $12 million, and disrupts 120+ web domains linked to approval phishing scams.","source":"CryptoTimes: 2026 Pig Butchering Crypto Scam Crackdowns","source_url":"https://www.cryptotimes.io/2026/05/05/2026-pig-butchering-crypto-scam-crackdowns/"},{"date":"2026-04-23","event":"OFAC sanctions Cambodian Senator Kok An and 28 associated individuals and entities, including Crown Resorts and Heng Feng Cambodia Bank, for operating pig-butchering compound networks. Separately, Scam Center Strike Force indicts Huang Xingshan and Jiang Wen Jie for managing the Shunda compound in Burma; 503 fake investment websites seized and $701.96 million in cryptocurrency restrained.","source":"U.S. Department of the Treasury press release","source_url":"https://home.treasury.gov/news/press-releases/sb0469"},{"date":"2026-04-29","event":"Dubai-led Operation First Light results in 276 arrests across Dubai and Thailand; FBI, Dubai Police, and Chinese Ministry of Public Security cooperate. Nine scam centers closed. Named defendants include Thet Min Nyi, Wiliang Awang, Andreas Chandra, and Lisa Mariam. Organizations targeted: Ko Thet Company, Sanduo Group, Giant Company. Telegram recruitment channel with 6,000+ followers seized.","source":"CryptoTimes: 2026 Pig Butchering Crackdowns","source_url":"https://www.cryptotimes.io/2026/05/05/2026-pig-butchering-crypto-scam-crackdowns/"},{"date":"2026-06-03","event":"DOJ announces Scam Center Strike Force Disruption Week results in coordination with Apple, Coinbase, Google, Meta, Microsoft, and TRM Labs: more than 1.4 million social media and email accounts interrupted, seven arrests in Thailand.","source":"DOJ Office of Public Affairs","source_url":"https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/scam-center-strike-force-announces-results-us-private-industry-disruption-week"},{"date":"2026-05-27","event":"Addresses later named in Case 26-cv-2543 (National Capital Region) are frozen by Tether at law enforcement request.","source":"Armstrong & Bradylyons PLLC case analysis","source_url":"https://www.armstrongbradylyons.com/library/doj-crypto-forfeiture-25-million"},{"date":"2026-07-21","event":"U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Columbia files five civil forfeiture complaints (26-cv-2539 through 26-cv-2543) seeking recovery of more than $25 million in USDT from pig-butchering fraud rings operating primarily in Southeast Asia. Hundreds of U.S. and Canadian victims identified.","source":"DOJ Press Release","source_url":"https://www.justice.gov/usao-dc/pr/investigations-cryptocurrency-scams-result-seizure-more-25-million"}]},"v":1}

   Verify offline (run on your own machine)

   python -m src.verify_decision 04425294-3f42-4bb6-9608-1ce34d3de547copy