Man accused in unlicensed virtual currency biz stays jailed
A judge has ruled that a leader of a libertarian group and self-described minister in New Hampshire will remain jailed on charges that he ran an unlicensed virtual currency exchange business, saying that hes a flight risk and a danger to the community.
Ian Freeman, 40, of Keene, has pleaded not guilty to charges of participating in a conspiracy to operate the business; wire fraud; money laundering; operating a continuing financial crimes enterprise; and operating an unlicensed money transmitting business.
In her ruling late Monday, U.S. Magistrate Judge Andrea Johnstone said Freeman has substantial financial resources. He told court officers he gets $23,000 a month in income, and has $60,000 in a checking account.
FBI agents seized $178,000 from a bedroom safe. Among other assets, they identified about 28 Bitcoin equivalent to about $1.6 million that Freeman can access. The government indicated these funds are almost impossible to trace and can be accessed anywhere, Johnstone wrote.
Read more: https://www.concordmonitor.com/Man-accused-in-unlicensed-virtual-currency-biz-stays-jailed-39733423