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The accused Russian bitcoin launderer Alexander Vinnik’s trial begins in Paris.

France has refused to grant the extradition request filed by Russia for BTC-e operator Alexander Vinnik, who is serving priso
France has refused to grant the extradition request filed by Russia for BTC-e operator Alexander Vinnik, who is serving prison time for money laundering.

The Russian citizen Alexander Vinnik is accused of laundering some $4 billion of BTC stolen from the 2014 hack on cryptocurrency exchange Mt. Gox, as well as several other significant frauds and money laundering scams. Now a court in Paris has begun hearing the trial against alleged multi-billion crypto money launder. The present case focuses on Vinnik’s alleged involvement in ransomware fraud to the tune of $159 million, after a spate of attacks on French businesses and organizations between 2016 and 2018.

Vinnik is alleged to be the mastermind behind the ‘Locky’ malware.

Alexander Vinnik is being tried on counts of extortion, money laundering, and criminal association, following the series of attacks, which ultimately led to 20 victims paying ransom demands issued in BTC in connection with the malware, the Associated Press reported.

He is alleged to be the mastermind behind the ‘Locky’ malware, as well as a former operator of the cryptocurrency exchange BTC-e, which handled ransom payments from the malware’s victims. Vinnik maintains his role only as a technical consultant.

Alexander Vinnik was arrested in 2017 in Greece.

The case against the accuse Russian crypto launderer dates back to his arrest in 2017 when he was detained by law enforcement in Greece at the United States’ request. Legal wrangling ensued between the U.S., France, and subsequently his home country of Russia, with competing extradition bids filed against him. Vinnik faces less serious charges in his home country. Russian authorities tried their best to extradite him. However, following a protracted court battle, the Greek courts decided Vinnik would be extradited to France, then the United States, then Russia, in order to face the charges against him in each respective country.

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