​Couple accused of laundering $4,5 billion in bitcoins to be released on bail

What’s new? A couple accused of laundering $4,5 billion in bitcoins stolen from the Bitfinex exchange will be released on bail. At a preliminary hearing in the case of Heather Morgan and Ilya Lichtenstein, the government applied for pre-trial detention, which would have kept them in custody until trial.

Information on the Bloomberg website

How did events develop? The authorities were unable to decide whether Morgan and Lichtenstein should be detained pending court proceedings. A transport order states that the couple will be transported from the Southern District of New York to the District of Columbia for a hearing on February 14:

“Ordered, that the United States Marshals Service transport the Defendants forthwith from the Southern District of New York to the District of Columbia for further proceedings in this matter, to wit: hearing at 2 PM on February 14, 2022”.

What is the judge’s order? During the hearing, the Prosecutor’s Office requested bail of $100 million. The judge rejected this request and set bail at $5 million for Lichtenstein, who has both Russian and US citizenship, and $3 million for Morgan. The defendants must stay at their home in New York and wear electronic bracelets. The further proceedings will take place in the District of Columbia early next week.