US Says John McAfee Indicted Over Fraudulent Cryptocurrency Schemes (reuters.com) 40
John McAfee, creator of the eponymous anti-virus software, has been indicted in Manhattan federal court on fraud and money laundering conspiracy crimes, stemming from two schemes concerning the fraudulent promotion to investors of cryptocurrencies, officials said on Friday. From a report: McAfee and his bodyguard Jimmy Gale Watson Jr were charged for a scheme to exploit McAfee's large Twitter following by publicly touting cryptocurrency offerings and digital tokens that they later sold once prices rose on the promotions, according to the U.S. Department of Justice and the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission. McAfee is being detained in Spain on separate criminal charges filed by the Justice Department's tax division, the department said. Watson, an executive adviser of McAfee's so-called cryptocurrency team, was arrested on Thursday night, the Justice Department said.
Good (Score:3)
Now go after the large players that have pushed this crap from the shadows for a long, long time.
Re:Good (Score:5, Interesting)
Now go after the large players that have pushed this crap from the shadows for a long, long time.
Not just from the shadows. I'm sure Tesla buying a billion in Bitcoin then announcing it loudly all over social media had an effect on price.
Re: (Score:2)
I'm sure Tesla buying a billion in Bitcoin then announcing it loudly all over social media had an effect on price.
Are you sure sure? Or are you sure, like you didn't take the time to check, so you're speculating sure?
Fraudulent Cryptocurrency Schemes (Score:2)
Excuse yourself when you belch (Score:1)
It's like that old joke.. (Score:2, Insightful)
What's the difference between a cult and a religion? The number of followers.
The only reason McAfee's coins were a "scam" is because not enough suckers bought into the collective delusion that they're worth exchanging real money for. Hyping your own shitcoin is no different than every shill article written for Bitcoin, by some HODLer hoping that more fools will jump on the hype train. People lose money on Bitcoin, too. Either it's all a scam, or it's all fair game.
another missed opportunity (Score:2)
Now there's hard currency that could really get rolling if enough people get behind it!
Re:It's like that old joke.. (Score:5, Informative)
1. "They also accused him of telling followers he had no stake in the coins, even as he touted how they âoewill change the world.â"
2. "Both also face civil charges by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, which in October accused McAfee of concealing more than $23.1 million he made from boosting seven cryptocurrency offerings on Twitter."
So, lying about his stake in what he was hawking, and tax evasion. Those are no-nos.
This can't be true! (Score:2)
It's a setup by the US Government! Mr. John is one of the more upstanding citizens of the world!
There is no way that the guy who claimed "Coronavirus cannot attack black people because it is a Chinese virus" and has the cure for all diseases which he found in the jungle. Is guilty of anything. This is a big-pharma coverup!
https://archive.vn/U3nj3 [archive.vn]
</sarcasm>
Re: (Score:2, Troll)
Still not quite as bad a take as Fauci's 2 or even 3 masks recommendation
Weird (Score:2)
There are lots of advertisements that do pretty much the same. They must have a broader reach than these guys.
Either there is a pretty clear documented trail of evidence and it ties into their legit businesses. Or someone important fell for it.
That also means they can hold him to his promise (Score:5, Funny)
Re: (Score:1)
And sure, this is a man who keeps promises, right?
The guy is a scumbag and it's about time he sees his payday end - he is just the worst of humanity packaged into a unit of flesh and shit.
His attempt at aggrandizement over the years pretty much demonstrates he has a mental age of about 15.
He either needs a shrink, or time in jail (again) or both...
Re:That also means they can hold him to his promis (Score:4, Insightful)
'' eat his own dick ''
One must ask, exactly how much phallus is left considering his Belizean harem collection.
Another question you have to ask is, John.. WTF? I mean the Belize thing should have provided sufficient warning, regardless of your legal status here or there. That should have made you fully aware that you would be an international target, you pissed off too many governmental organisations [and they do talk]. You could have easily found a place in this world or bought an island where you could do what you do, been as happy as a pig in shit and no one would ever know. It would have been a shit ton cheaper than this is going to cost you. If and when you manage to fix this shitstorm, fade away dude.
Re: (Score:3)
Re: (Score:2)
for some reason, all of the copies seem to be stored on RFS volumes . . .
Well this is a shock (Score:3, Funny)
Practically a saint amongst men.
Re: (Score:1, Troll)
''drugs, hookers, tax evasion, murder charges, lack of sanity and shady promotions he was involved with.''
Aren't ya being a little judgemental here? I mean drugs and hookers are perfectly legal depending upon where in the world you are and where it's not legal majority of the harm is done by enforcement. Charges are just that, accusations meaningless without a conviction. Everyone has the right to be crazy and shady as long as it harms no one else. Tax evasion means you needed better lawyers and accountants
Re: (Score:1)
Aren't ya being a little judgemental here?
No.
Re: (Score:2)
McAfee doesn't bother trying to do things the proper way. Sure he could pay lawyers and accountants but then he'd have less money for hookers and blow. See the difference?
Promotion? (Score:2)
So popularity rose on promotion? Is there another reason to do a promotion?
Given the Law of Supply & Demand, popularity increases must result in price increases for a fixed quantity.
And he sold assets that appreciated after being advertised? That's the sort of thing humans do.
Given that everything else follows from the advertisement, their case seems to be "McAfee Advertised Stuff". Social Media Influencing deemed criminal!
It almost seems like some some schlub prosecutor just wants a case with McAfee
Re: (Score:2)
And he sold assets that appreciated after being advertised? That's the sort of thing humans do.
Given that everything else follows from the advertisement, their case seems to be "McAfee Advertised Stuff". Social Media Influencing deemed criminal!
It almost seems like some some schlub prosecutor just wants a case with McAfee's name on it.
The part where he told people he didn't own the tokens he was hyping when he actually did is what makes prosecutors eager. US law allows hyping, but requires disclosure (for whatever financial instrument cryptotokens are considered this week).
So now its good bye (Score:1)
Re: (Score:2)
Uh McAfee the person hasn't had anything to do with McAfee the company in a couple decades.
He's a one-man reality show (Score:1)
If his prostitute misfiled his tax return ... (Score:3)
Shocked! SHOCKED I TELL YOU! (Score:2)
I mean, if this isn't the most McAfee thing ever, I don't know what is.
They're just now onto his decades of scamming? (Score:1)
He did that for years -- made most of his money on it. Oh, wait, that was anti-virus software. Same scheme, though: invest, promote something empty, sell like mad, & cash out.