U.S. Charges Two Europeans Over North Korea Crypto Conspiracy Involving an American

Two Europeans were indicted by the US Department of Justice on Monday for allegedly plotting with a recently convicted American cryptocurrency researcher to assist North Korea circumvent US sanctions.

Alejandro Cao de Benos of Spain, who created a pro-North Korean affinity group, and Christopher Emms of the United Kingdom, a cryptocurrency merchant, were accused of unlawfully employing North Korean researcher Virgil Griffith to give cryptocurrency and blockchain technology services.

Both defendants are still on the loose. Lawyers for both parties could not be found right away.

Cao de Benos and Emms allegedly planned for Griffith, who has a degree from the California Institute of Technology, to fly to Pyongyang, North Korea, through China in April 2019 to attend the Pyongyang Blockchain and Cryptocurrency Conference, according to prosecutors.

Emms and Griffith reportedly instructed officials of North Korea's leadership and other conference participants how to avoid sanctions and launder money using cutting-edge blockchain and cryptocurrency technologies.

According to U.S. Attorney Damian Williams in Manhattan, the directive was given "all for the purpose of violating U.S. sanctions aimed to impede North Korea's hostile nuclear goals" and defend American security interests.

Cao de Benos formed the Korean Friendship Association, which aims to "present the truth" of North Korea and aid in the peaceful unification of the Korean peninsula, according to its website.

Cao de Benos reportedly chastised Griffith in two emails in June 2019 after finding that Griffith had discussed his trip with the US embassy, according to the accusation.

"You might be fined or even imprisoned!" As a result, we never told anybody or made the [attendees] public," Cao de Benos wrote. "Please realize that your authorization to enter the DPRK was unusual, and it was granted on the basis of my personal assurance (since I trust Chris, and he trusts you)."

If convicted, Cao de Benos, 47, and Emms, 30, each face up to 20 years in jail.

Griffith pleaded guilty to a conspiracy charge and was sentenced to 5-1/4 years in prison on April 12.