#The encryption vendor was sentenced to 121 months.#

The U.S. Department of Justice recently announced that Anurag Pramod Murarka, an Indian national and international virtual currency dealer, has been sentenced to 121 months in prison for conspiracy to commit money laundering. Murarka operated an international money laundering business under two aliases, "elonmuskwhm" and "la2nyc," from April 2021 to September 2023, soliciting clients through dark web advertisements and facilitating the transfer of illicit funds using cryptocurrency. He laundered over $20 million for criminals involved in hacking and drug trafficking. Murarka advertised his money laundering services openly on dark web markets. Clients contacted him through encrypted messaging, negotiated exchange rates, and sent cryptocurrency to designated addresses. Murarka delivered cash to U.S.-based employees through complex India-based hawala operations, who then packaged and mailed the cash to clients. Murarka charged fees for his services, bribing employees and co-conspirators with a portion of the profits. Despite knowing that many of his clients were engaged in criminal activities, Murarka provided them with money laundering services, helping to conceal the sources of their illicit activities and facilitate their criminal endeavors.