Keene resident Ian Freeman has been found guilty in a federal trial of cryptocurrency fraud. Freeman was charged with five counts of wire fraud, one count of securities fraud, and one count of money laundering.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office said in a statement that Freeman had been running a cryptocurrency-related business since 2014, and had promised investors that they would make a profit through his business. However, Freeman instead used the money to fund his own lifestyle and failed to disclose the risks of investing in his business.
Freeman was accused of defrauding at least six investors out of more than $2 million. He was found guilty on all seven counts and could face up to 20 years in prison. He is scheduled to be sentenced in August.
The case is the latest in a series of federal investigations into cryptocurrency-related crimes. The U.S. government is cracking down on financial crimes related to cryptocurrency, and is seeking to hold those responsible accountable.
