Unchained

How This DOJ Strike Force Hunts Down Cryptocurrency Criminals - Ep.195

Oct 20, 2020

In this fascinating discussion, Zia Faruqui, a magistrate judge with extensive experience in cryptocurrency prosecutions, and Jesse Brooks, a U.S. attorney focused on national security, delve into the complexities of crypto crime. They explore how terrorists like Al-Qaeda adapt fundraising strategies using dynamic addresses and social media. The duo shares insights on significant cases including the Lazarus Group's massive theft and the exploitation of crises like the COVID-19 pandemic for scams. Their collaborative approaches highlight the evolving landscape of crypto-related crimes and law enforcement's response.

01:08:08

Creator website

Episode guests

Jessi Brooks

Zia Faruqui

AI Chapters

Episode notes

Intro

5min

Understanding Civil Forfeiture

4min

Cryptocurrency Tactics in Terrorism Financing

17min

Exploiting Crises: Crime in the Crypto World

9min

Unveiling North Korean Hacking Tactics

2min

Navigating Crypto Crime: Techniques and Tactics

27min

Conclusion and Gratitude from the DOJ Strike Force Team

2min

Magistrate judge Zia Faruqui, and Jessi Brooks, assistant U.S. attorney in the national security section at the United States Attorney’s Office, have prosecuted several cryptocurrency-related cases, many of them amongst the most well-known. In this episode, they talk about:

how they came to be involved in the prosecution of so many cases involving cryptocurrency
the nature of civil forfeiture cases
the Al-Qassam Brigades case, which led to the largest ever seizure of a terrorist organization’s cryptocurrency accounts, and the terrorist organization’s use of dynamic addresses in an attempt to elude detection by authorities.
how Al Qaeda used Telegram to pursue cryptocurrency donations
the case involving ISIS and counterfeit PPE for COVID
the process of seizing funds from unhosted wallets
the North Korean affiliated Lazarus Group, and how they were able to amass $2580 million worth of cryptocurrency
the methods hackers will use to cash out stolen crypto funds to fiat
how different government agencies in the U.S., as well as in other countries, are coordinated when tackling these cases
the Welcome to Video case and how they went about prosecuting a person in a foreign country
how they’ve seen the use of cryptocurrencies by criminals evolve over time
and whether or not they think decentralized exchanges will make it easier for criminals and hackers to cash out