Overview
- The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of North Carolina announced the seizure in a federal forfeiture action.
- The investigation began after a victim report to the HSI Tip Line in Raleigh, leading agents to trace stolen USDT through multiple wallets.
- Prosecutors say criminals cultivated online romantic relationships to funnel victims onto professional‑looking but fake crypto trading platforms.
- When victims tried to withdraw, operators allegedly blocked access or demanded sham fees and taxes to extract more money.
- Officials describe the recovery as among the largest tied to this fraud type and part of an ongoing U.S. effort to disrupt crypto‑enabled schemes.