The U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Department of Justice have renewed their call for victims linked to the AML Bitcoin fraud scheme to come forward before June 5, 2025, underscoring that submissions received after that date will not be considered. The latest notice, issued by the FBI’s San Francisco Division together with the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of California, is aimed at identifying individuals who may qualify for restitution, victim services, or other rights under federal and state law.
A final deadline for potential victims
Authorities said the outreach applies to people who were harmed by Rowland Marcus Andrade, his company, or products associated with the scheme. The list of digital assets cited by investigators includes AML Bitcoin, AML Bitcoin token, Black Gold Coin, Aten Coin, and ABTC. The FBI has asked affected individuals, or anyone with information relevant to the case, to complete a short submission form before the deadline.
According to the notice, the agency is legally required to identify victims in the federal crimes it investigates. That process is not merely administrative. It can influence whether affected individuals are recognized in the case and whether they may later be eligible for restitution or additional support. The FBI also indicated that people who respond may be contacted for more details, while confidentiality will be maintained throughout the process.
Case centers on misleading claims around crypto and compliance
The enforcement action stems from the activities of Rowland Marcus Andrade, who operated through the National Aten Coin Foundation, also known as NAC Foundation LLC. Prosecutors said Andrade fraudulently marketed and sold digital assets while misrepresenting the nature of the products and their compliance-related features. In particular, authorities focused on claims that the offerings incorporated proprietary technology and anti-money-laundering safeguards.
Between 2014 and 2019, Andrade allegedly raised millions of dollars from investors on the basis of those representations. Federal authorities later concluded that the claims were false and misleading. He was convicted of wire fraud and money laundering, making the case one of the more prominent examples of crypto-related enforcement involving promotional narratives built around regulatory credibility and financial crime prevention.
Why the FBI is collecting more victim information now
The latest federal message suggests that the case has entered a phase where identifying the full population of victims is a major priority. In fraud prosecutions, restitution and victim-related proceedings often depend on the government’s ability to document who was harmed, how they were affected, and whether their losses can be tied to the convicted conduct. That is why the FBI’s renewed request carries practical significance for anyone who purchased, held, or was solicited in connection with the named tokens.
The agency’s wording is especially direct: responses submitted after June 5, 2025 will not be considered. For investors who may have ignored earlier notices, misunderstood the products they bought, or only recently realized their connection to the case, this deadline may represent the last formal opportunity to be counted in the government’s victim identification process.
Broader implications for the crypto market
Although the case revolves around a specific defendant and set of tokens, it also reflects a wider regulatory theme in digital assets: projects that market themselves using the language of compliance, anti-money-laundering controls, or unique regulatory alignment can still become the subject of fraud allegations if those claims are not substantiated. In other words, branding a token around compliance does not exempt it from scrutiny; in some cases, it can become central to the alleged deception.
That point is particularly relevant in the crypto sector, where technical jargon and legal terminology are often used in fundraising narratives. The Andrade case shows how representations about proprietary systems, law-enforcement cooperation, or AML-focused design can shape investor expectations—and how those same claims can become evidence if regulators and prosecutors later determine they were false.
Authorities want the public to spread the word
Federal officials are also asking members of the public to share the notice with others who may have been affected by the NAC Foundation’s crypto-related activities. That request reflects a recurring challenge in digital asset fraud cases: victims are often geographically dispersed, may have interacted with the project years earlier, and may not realize they are part of an active criminal matter. Public recirculation of the notice can therefore play a role in helping investigators reach individuals who otherwise would not come forward in time.
For anyone who believes they may have been impacted by the sale or promotion of AML Bitcoin or related tokens, the immediate issue is procedural rather than speculative. The government has set a firm date, indicated a possible path to restitution and legal protections, and made clear that late submissions will be excluded. Whether or not financial recovery ultimately occurs, being identified in the case could affect access to rights and remedies available under applicable law.
As the investigation and related victim process continue, the message from U.S. authorities is straightforward: those with relevant losses or information should act before the deadline. In a case built on allegations of deceptive crypto marketing and false compliance claims, timely participation may be essential both for individual recovery efforts and for the government’s broader effort to document the full scope of harm.