The Head of Legal and Compliance at OneCoin, Irina Dilkinska, has been charged by US authorities for her involvement in the notorious crypto scam and has been deported from Bulgaria to the US. She could face 20 years in prison for wire fraud and an additional 20 years for money laundering violations, if found guilty.
Another OneCoin Member Faces Jail Time
The US Department of Justice (DOJ) announced Dilkinska will appear before United States Magistrate Judge Sarah Netburn. US Attorney Damian Williams alleged Dilkinska enabled OneCoin to launder millions of dollars through shell companies and could face up to 40 years in federal prison if found guilty. FBI Assistant Director Michael Driscoll said she helped her co-conspirator launder nearly $400 million and burned key documents when she found out about his arrest.
“Dilkinska helped perpetuate a wide-ranging scheme with millions of victims and billions of dollars in losses, and she will now face justice for her alleged crimes,” Williams added.
The DOJ also alleges Dilkinska managed a property belonging to the head of OneCoin, Ruja Ignatova (known as “the Cryptoqueen”). Former boyfriend of Ignatova, Gilbert Armenta, was recently sentenced to five years in jail for laundering $300 million in proceeds generated from the OneCoin fraud.
What Happened to “the Cryptoqueen?”
Despite numerous arrests connected to OneCoin, Ignatova’s whereabouts are still unknown. She was last spotted in 2017 in Athens, Greece and theories suggest she could be hiding in a luxurious yacht in the Mediterranean sea, where authorities have no jurisdiction. There are also rumors that she was murdered in November 2018 by a hitman acting on behalf of a local drug kingpin, who was linked to her scam. However, a penthouse worth nearly $15 million (previously owned by Ignatova) reappeared on the London real estate market earlier this year, suggesting that she could be alive.
