U.S. charges jailed Bulgarian for moving $290K crypto

A Bulgarian man already serving a federal prison sentence for a multimillion-dollar cryptocurrency laundering scheme now faces new charges for allegedly orchestrating the removal of an additional $290,000 in crypto that had been ordered forfeited to the U.S. government. Rossen Iossifov, 53, appeared in federal court in the Eastern District of Kentucky this week on charges of removal of property to prevent seizure, aiding and abetting, and conspiracy to commit money laundering.

According to the U.S. Department of Justice, Iossifov conspired in January 2024 to withdraw and transfer the cryptocurrency from an account registered to him at the Kraken exchange. The funds, which had been restrained and ordered forfeited following his 2021 conviction, were allegedly moved through several cryptocurrency exchanges and illicit mixing services to prevent authorities from taking possession. Prosecutors stated the transfers occurred while Iossifov was serving a 111-month federal prison sentence.

The new case stems from assets connected to Iossifov's prior conviction for his role in the "Alexandria Online Auction Fraud" network. Prosecutors said Iossifov owned and operated RG Coins, a...