Heather Morgan, also known as the rapper "Razzlekhan," was sentenced to 18 months in prison for her involvement in laundering cryptocurrency stolen during the 2016 Bitfinex hack.
Heather Morgan, also known as the rapper "Razzlekhan," was sentenced to 18 months in prison for her involvement in laundering cryptocurrency stolen during the 2016 Bitfinex hack. Morgan, along with her husband Ilya Lichtenstein, was arrested in 2022 after authorities traced the laundering of over $10.8 billion worth of stolen Bitcoin.
Morgan pleaded guilty to conspiracy charges in August 2023, admitting to helping launder nearly 120,000 Bitcoin through various methods, including coin mixers and darknet markets. Prosecutors acknowledged her role was lesser compared to Lichtenstein’s, who directly orchestrated the hack, but still highlighted her significant participation in the crime.
In addition to the stolen Bitcoin, the couple attempted to conceal their actions by purchasing gold coins, though most of the Bitcoin was eventually recovered after their arrests. Lichtenstein, who pleaded guilty to the theft and laundering charges, was sentenced to five years in prison in November 2024.
Morgan, who had a prior public persona as a rapper and influencer, had also written articles on cybercrime tactics before her arrest, providing advice on the methods she employed in the laundering operation herself.
Morgan's case is one of the largest cryptocurrency-related crimes of all time and has drawn attention to the growing intersection of digital currency and criminal activity. The Bitfinex hack remains a significant example of the challenges law enforcement faces in tracking and recovering stolen cryptocurrencies.
This article contains links to third-party websites or other content for information purposes only (“Third-Party Sites”). The Third-Party Sites are not under the control of CoinMarketCap, and CoinMarketCap is not responsible for the content of any Third-Party Site, including without limitation any link contained in a Third-Party Site, or any changes or updates to a Third-Party Site. CoinMarketCap is providing these links to you only as a convenience, and the inclusion of any link does not imply endorsement, approval or recommendation by CoinMarketCap of the site or any association with its operators.
This article is intended to be used and must be used for informational purposes only. It is important to do your own research and analysis before making any material decisions related to any of the products or services described. This article is not intended as, and shall not be construed as, financial advice.
The views and opinions expressed in this article are the author’s [company’s] own and do not necessarily reflect those of CoinMarketCap.
