R
ICHMOND HILL, GA – The U.S. government has seized more than $1.18 million in cryptocurrency after a Richmond Hill real‑estate agent reported a sophisticated fraud. United States Attorney Margaret E. Heap, Southern District of Georgia, announced that a civil asset‑forfeiture proceeding resulted in the forfeiture of $1,185,922.91 in digital assets. The Asset Forfeiture Unit of the U.S. Attorney’s Office, working with the U.S. Secret Service (USSS), liquidated the crypto into U.S. dollars following a financial investigation.

    'Our collaboration with the Secret Service has successfully identified and seized these funds, and we are now locating victims who may receive restitution from the forfeiture,' said Heap. 'This outcome underscores the dedication and ingenuity of our investigative teams.'

    The case began when a Richmond Hill agent flagged a suspicious buyer with a cryptocurrency background. The agent alerted the Secret Service, which traced the scheme to a North Carolina agent who had lost over $200,000 in crypto to the same criminal network. The fraudster lured the victim into a counterfeit crypto app. Tracing revealed a money‑laundering operation moving more than $100 million in a short period, prompting the U.S. to seize over $1 million in assets.

    In April 2023, the case was formally opened, and by 2024 the property was forfeited through a federal civil forfeiture proceeding in Savannah. The Secret Service continues its investigation and is identifying eligible victims for potential compensation from the forfeited funds.

    The Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3), operated by the FBI, remains the national hub for cyber‑crime reporting. Victims can file complaints at www.ic3.gov.

    This investigation was conducted by the U.S. Secret Service, with representation from Senior Litigation Counsel J. Bishop Ravenel. © 2025 WTOC. All rights reserved.