A New York jury has found cybersecurity consultant Jonathan Spalletta guilty in a case tied to the theft of nearly $55 million from crypto platform Uranium Finance, according to Bloomberg. Prosecutors said he carried out two attacks in 2021, after which the platform shut down. The jury returned its verdict after more than two hours of deliberation. One of the charges relates to money laundering through crypto mixers including Tornado Cash, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison. U.S. District Judge Jed Rakoff set sentencing for Feb. 16. Authorities said they seized more than $3 million worth of rare Pokemon and Magic: The Gathering cards from Spalletta’s Maryland home, along with about $31 million in crypto assets. Prosecutors also said he spent more than $600,000 on an ancient Roman coin commemorating Caesar’s assassination and $137,000 on a Wright brothers aircraft fragment that had been taken to the moon by Armstrong. Defense lawyers argued he used publicly available smart contract functions rather than forged credentials or malicious code.
Jonathan Spalletta, a cybersecurity consultant, was convicted by a New York jury in a case involving the theft of nearly $55 million from crypto trading platform Uranium Finance, according to Bloomberg.
Prosecutors said Spalletta carried out two attacks in 2021. Uranium Finance shut down after the funds were stolen. The jury reached its verdict after more than two hours of deliberation.
Spalletta also faces a money laundering count tied to the use of crypto mixing services including Tornado Cash. That charge carries a maximum prison sentence of 20 years. U.S. District Judge Jed Rakoff set sentencing for Feb. 16.
Law enforcement authorities seized more than $3 million worth of rare Pokemon and Magic: The Gathering cards from his home in Maryland, as well as about $31 million in crypto assets. Prosecutors said he also spent more than $600,000 on an ancient Roman coin commemorating Caesar’s assassination and paid $137,000 for a Wright brothers aircraft fragment that had been taken to the moon by Armstrong.
Defense lawyers argued that Spalletta merely used functions publicly available within the smart contract, rather than forged credentials or malicious code, and therefore did not commit hacking.
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