South Africa Charges Former Monero Lead Developer With 378 Counts of Fraud and Forgery – The South African authorities have charged Riccardo Spagni, the so-called crypto mogul and former Monero lead developer, with 378 charges of fraud, according to a report.
Spagni is facing charges after it was discovered that he defrauded his previous employer of more than $93,500. (R1,453,561). Between October 2009 and June 2011, the crimes are said to have occurred.
Spagni was arrested by US law authorities in Tennessee, as previously reported. The lead maintainer’s arrest is the result of a warrant issued by a South African court after Spagni, better known as “Fluffypony,” failed to appear in court for a regular hearing.
Also Read: Former CEO of Crypto Exchange Wex Dmitry Vasiliev Reportedly Detained in Croatia
Spagni is accused of defrauding his former South African employer, Cape Cookies, by increasing the amount of money due to the supplier. He has pleaded not guilty to the charges.
The former Monero lead maintainer would then ensure that the funds were transferred to a bank account that he controlled, according to one report. Spagni would then send the exact amount due to the supplier and keep the balance.
According to court documents filed in May 2022, the former developer now faces 126 counts of fraud or VAT Act violations. “126 counts of forgery as well as 126 counts of uttering” are also on his list of charges. Spagni’s lawyers’ attempts to have the documents removed from the record were apparently refused by a US court, according to a report.
Also Read: Fidelity Plans Hiring Spree to Expand Crypto Services to Include Ethereum Trading and Custody
South Africa Charges Former Monero Lead Developer With 378 Counts of Fraud and Forgery – Meanwhile, the charges leveled against Spagni by the South African government were revealed just days after the former Monero maintainer apparently waived his right to an extradition hearing. Spagni is also believed to have urged a US court to expedite his extradition to South Africa in an affidavit filed on May 25.
