Wiltshire man convicted of cryptocurrency scam | News

An investigation by the South West Regional Organized Crime Unit is ongoing

Two men who stole more than £5.7m worth of cryptocurrency from victims around the world have been sentenced

An investigation by the South West Regional Organized Crime Unit is ongoing.

James Heppel, 42, from Staverton, Wiltshire, and Jake Lee, 38, from Bath, both pleaded guilty to three counts of conspiracy to defraud. Lee was sentenced to four years and Heppel to 15 months at Bristol Crown Court on Friday.

The pair carried out the fraud by forging the blockchain domain of the online cryptocurrency exchange. com to access victims’ Bitcoin wallets, stealing their funds and login details.

In total, 55 victims were identified in 26 different countries. Cash totaling £835,000, which includes a suitcase containing £551,000 in cash voluntarily handed in by Lee in January, as well as £64,000 worth of cryptocurrencies, a Banksy print worth £60,000 and three vehicles, all were retained.

A confiscation order of almost £1 million has been issued against Lee, which will be used to compensate victims.

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