U.S. DOJ Seizes $400M in Helix Mixer Assets: 4,500 Bitcoin and an Ohio Mansion
A federal judge in Washington, D.C., entered a final forfeiture order on January 21, 2026, transferring more than $400 million in cryptocurrency, cash, and real estate linked to the darknet mixing service Helix to the U.S. government. Helix operator Larry Dean Harmon was convicted of money laundering conspiracy, sentenced to three years in prison, and later released in December 2025 after completing a drug rehabilitation program. The forfeited assets include approximately 4,500 bitcoin (worth roughly $355 million at current prices), over $325,000 in cash, and an Ohio mansion purchased during Helix's heyday. The case highlights the U.S. government's relentless pursuit of darknet financial crimes and its ability to track and seize proceeds from illicit mixing services.
