Monero ex-developer arrested on fraud allegations

Riccardo Spagni, who near Monero successful 2019, is presently successful US custody awaiting imaginable extradition to South Africa

US authorities person detained Riccardo Spagni, a erstwhile pb developer of Monero (XMR), connected charges shown to beryllium unrelated to his relation astatine the privacy-focused coin.

According to the documents astatine the United States District Court for the Middle District of Tennessee, the ex-Monero maintainer was apprehended astatine the petition of the South African government, which wants Spagni extradited to reply to charges related to fraud committed betwixt 2009 and 2011.

The US District Court issued the warrant connected 20 July 2021, with US Marshals intercepting Spagni connected the aforesaid time portion connected a backstage pitchy to Los Cabos, Mexico.

The allegations against Spagni

According to the tribunal documents, Spagni worked for Cape Cookies arsenic an IT Manager, a presumption helium allegedly utilized to fraudulently get paid 1,453,561.47 Rand (roughly $101,000). The fraud charges subordinate to forged invoices, Value Added Tax (VAT) numbers and slope relationship details.

"SPAGNI was charged successful the Western Cape Regional Court, Cape Town for fraud and different charges arising retired of these facts,” the papers reads. “He pleaded not blameworthy to the charges, and the proceedings against him was commenced. Evidence was presented against him, but SPAGNI failed to look successful court."

The Cape Cookies ex-employee has allegedly been connected South Africa's wanted database since 19 April 2021 erstwhile the Magistrate Court of the District of Cape Town issued a warrant for his arrest. With a ceremonial petition from South Africa successful place, the US Attorney General's bureau is said to person sought an apprehension warrant.

He is present successful custody successful the US, arsenic helium awaits the solution of extradition proceedings. The courts person been urged to contradict bail, with Spagni described arsenic a imaginable formation risk.

If he's extradited to South Africa, a condemnation would spot him look a situation condemnation of up to 20 years.