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DOJ Charges Crypto Seller With Operating Unlicensed Money Transmitting Business

Michael Yusko III allegedly used bank accounts held in the name of several companies to sell cryptocurrencies for profit.

By James Rubin
AccessTimeIconJun 24, 2021 at 11:14 p.m. UTC
Updated Sep 14, 2021 at 1:16 p.m. UTC
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The U.S. Justice Department said Thursday it filed charges against a New Orleans man for allegedly operating an illegal money transmitting business.

In a complaint filed in the United States District Court for Louisiana's Eastern District, the DOJ said that over nearly two years Michael Yusko III used bank accounts registered to a company he owned, Louisiana-based Nervous Light Capital, and other companies "to sell bitcoin, ethereum and other cyptocurrencies for profit." The complaint also named Ready Demolition LLC, Patriot Concrete Pumping, Praetorian Energy and Hudson Oak Partners.

According to DOJ, Yusko did not comply with federal money transmitting business registration requirements while operating his business from about August 2017 to June 13, 2019.

Money transmitting businesses must register with the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network, which is part of the U.S. Treasury Department.

If found guilty he could be forced to pay the U.S. government any "property, real or personal, which constitutes or is derived from proceeds traceable to said offense," according to the complaint.

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