FBI Sting Reveals Bitcoin Scheme Behind Counterfeit Goods Network

Alan Joseph, a Lancaster, Massachusetts man, was convicted on Nov. 22 for running an unlicensed business that converted cash into bitcoin to aid criminal activities, the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) said on Tuesday. Between August 2020 and February 2021, Joseph conducted transactions, including a $25,000 cash-to-bitcoin exchange, for an undercover agent who claimed involvement in counterfeit goods trafficking. Authorities revealed Joseph’s actions promoted illegal activities by enabling criminals to obscure their cash flow through cryptocurrency. He failed to register his money transmission business as required by federal law, highlighting the misuse of bitcoin to conceal illicit profits. Federal agencies, including the FBI and IRS, emphasized this case as a warning to those exploiting cryptocurrency to facilitate crimes. Joseph faces up to 20 years for money laundering and an additional five years for operating an unlicensed business, with sentencing scheduled for February 2025.