MIAMI — A federal grand jury indicted a 19-year-old Canadian illegal alien who overstayed his visa and a 28-year-old Miami man for their alleged roles in a cryptocurrency fraud and money laundering scheme that caused more than $13 million in losses, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida announced.
Trenton Richard David Johnston, 19, of Canada, allegedly impersonated support representatives from a popular search engine and cryptocurrency-related companies to gain unauthorized access to victims’ digital accounts and cryptocurrency wallets while living in the Miami area, according to the indictment. Once access was obtained, Johnston and other co-conspirators allegedly transferred victims’ cryptocurrency holdings for their own benefit. Investigators estimate losses exceeding $13 million, with additional victims continuing to be identified.
Brandon Michael Tardibone, 28, of Miami, allegedly harbored Johnston — who remained in the United States unlawfully after overstaying his visa — by providing him lodging at a luxury Miami-area residence in an effort to evade immigration authorities. Johnston and Tardibone are also accused of laundering fraud proceeds through a series of financial transactions designed to conceal the nature and source of the funds, using more than $1 million in illicit proceeds to lease luxury vehicles, purchase high-end jewelry and finance an extravagant nightlife and entertainment lifestyle.
Johnston faces charges of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and conspiracy to commit money laundering, each carrying up to 20 years in prison if convicted. Tardibone faces up to 20 years in prison on the money laundering conspiracy charge and up to 10 years on the harboring charge.
U.S. Attorney Jason A. Reding Quiñones for the Southern District of Florida and Acting Special Agent in Charge José R. Figueroa of Homeland Security Investigations Miami announced the case. HSI Miami is leading the investigation with assistance from the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation Office of Inspector General, Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation, U.S. Customs and Border Protection and the Golden Beach Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jackson K. Dering V and Robert F. Moore are prosecuting the case.
An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. Related court documents are available through the Southern District of Florida under case number 26-cr-20181.