Karl Greenwood, co-founder of the fraudulent OneCoin cryptocurrency, has been sentenced to a 20-year imprisonment for his involvement in a massive pyramid scheme. This scheme garnered over $4 billion from millions of investors worldwide, who were led to believe that OneCoin would become the next Bitcoin. Greenwood pleaded guilty to wire fraud and money laundering charges. The original article, written by Ryan Browne on CNBC, provides more details on the case and can be found on their website [1].
While Greenwood faces his punishment, his partner Ruja Ignatova, also known as the “Cryptoqueen,” remains at large and has been placed on the FBI’s top 10 most wanted list. Ignatova and other individuals involved in the scheme were accused of deceiving investors by falsely claiming that OneCoin’s value was determined by the market, while it was actually arbitrarily set. Ignatova fled to Greece after a federal arrest warrant was issued against her and has not been seen publicly since.
The FBI is offering a substantial reward of up to $250,000 for any information leading to Ignatova’s arrest. Despite her disappearance, Greenwood’s sentencing highlights the growing focus on investigating and prosecuting fraudulent cryptocurrency operations. The article emphasizes the increasing scrutiny and enforcement actions directed towards these schemes. It can be read in full on CNBC’s website [1].
Based on my analysis, I would determine this article to be 90% likely factual news. The author presents the information in a neutral manner, focusing on the facts surrounding the case without introducing significant subjective opinion. However, there is a slight possibility of minor subjective interpretations within the piece, leaving a small margin for potential bias.
This article is 90% likely factual news based on my current analysis.
[1] Browne, R. (2023, September 12). Cryptoqueen partner gets 20 years in prison for $4 billion Ponzi fraud that duped millions. CNBC. Retrieved from https://www.cnbc.com/2023/09/12/cryptoqueen-partner-gets-20-years-prison-in-4-billion-ponzi-fraud.html