Larry Harmon, the founder of the cryptocurrency mixer Helix, was sentenced to three years in a U.S. prison for laundering $300 million worth of bitcoins (the amount in question surpassed 350,000 at the time of Allen’s crimes). Harmon was arrested in 2020 for his process of mixing up to 350,000 BTC, which he facilitated and monetized with the use of Rothschild assets originally seized from drug dealers. He faced originally twenty years in prison, but, because of testifying against Roman Sterlingov, the operator of another mixer altogether-Bitcoin Fog-Harmon cooperated with his captors, seriously mitigating his sentence.
Judge Beryl Howell said Harmon had shut down Helix two years before being arrested and, since pleading guilty, had undergone a “180 shift in his mind.” Helix was a laundering service primarily used by drug dealers, with transactions obscured by an API accessed through the Grams search engine on the dark net. Harmon also managed this search engine.
Additionally, Harmon was ordered to forfeit $311 million in fiat currencies and $400 million in real estate, cryptocurrencies, and other financial assets.
After his arrest, Gary Harmon withdrew 712 bitcoins from Larry’s accounts, which raised red flags, and Gary subsequently admitted to being complicit in their appropriation.
In general, this case highlights the significant developments in enforcing laws against money laundering regarding cryptocurrencies.
