Skip to main content

Charlie Shrem to plead guilty to federal charges related to Bitcoin transactions

Charlie Shrem to plead guilty to federal charges related to Bitcoin transactions

Share this story

One of the most prominent names in Bitcoin will plead guilty to multiple federal charges in a New York court next Thursday, September 4th. According to Reuters, Charlie Shrem, an entrepreneur who's made millions off of Bitcoin, has made a plea deal with authorities regarding charges that he illicitly transacted Bitcoin with users of the underground marketplace Silk Road. Shrem's lawyer tells Reuters that he will plead guilty to the charge of unlicensed money transmission, which carries a maximum prison sentence of five years. He was also charged with one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering, and one count of willful failure to file a suspicious activity report with banking authorities. Combined, those charges carry an additional maximum sentence of 25 years in prison. It is not yet know if Shrem's co-defendant, Robert Faiella (who allegedly purchased Bitcoins from Shrem before marking them up for sale on Silk Road), will also plead guilty. Shrem was arrested at JFK International Airport late this past January.