"Crypto Couple's Guilty Plea in $4.5B Bitcoin Heist"

The "crypto couple," Ilya Lichtenstein and Heather Morgan, are expected to plead guilty to orchestrating a $4.5 billion bitcoin-laundering scheme. They were arrested in 2022 following what the Department of Justice called its "largest financial seizure ever." The couple allegedly employed sophisticated laundering techniques, including creating fake identities and converting funds into other virtual currencies. They are charged with conspiracy to commit money laundering and conspiracy to defraud the United States, which carry a maximum penalty of 25 years in prison. The saga began with the 2016 hack of Bitfinex, and authorities found evidence suggesting the couple planned to flee to Russia under new identities.