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Hacker's conviction for stealing €2m in bitcoin may affect US extradition bid
Summary
Conor Freeman, 21, of Glenageary Court, Dun Laoghaire, was sentenced by the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to just under three years for knowingly possessing the proceeds of crime – 142.75682712 Bitcoin – and for stealing cryptocurrency from three victims in May 2018. He pleaded guilty to the thefts, to conspiracy to commit wire fraud, to aiding and abetting wire fraud, and to aiding and abetting aggravated identity theft. The High Court heard that the US is seeking his extradition on one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, four counts of aiding and abetting wire fraud and four counts of aiding and abetting aggravated identity theft, with a potential sentence of up to 108 years if convicted. Freeman's plea and cooperation were cited as mitigating factors, and his custodial sentence was reduced to two years and 11 months to credit time already spent in custody. The extradition request may be affected by his Irish conviction.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: Hacker's conviction for stealing €2m in bitcoin may affect US extradition bid. Charges or matters: three counts of dishonestly operating a computer to make a gain on dates between May 15 and May 18, 2018. Procedural stage: sentence
When:
- January 18 Incident
- May 15, 2018 Hearing Or Sentence
- May 16, 2018 Hearing Or Sentence
- May 18, 2018 Other
- May 15 Other
- May 2019 Incident
- February 2018 Other
- May 2018 Incident
- April 18, 2019 Other
- 2020-11-23 Publication
Why: However, Paul Carroll SC, defending Freeman, previously told Dublin Circuit Criminal Court that there was an expectation that because of his client's co-operation with authorities in Ireland and the US, the extradition request would be withdrawn. Defence account reported by CNI
Case subjects
Convicted Person
Charges: three counts of dishonestly operating a computer to make a gain on dates between May 15 and May 18, 2018 (Admitted)
Plea: Guilty
Outcome: Siobhan Ni Chulachain BL, for the Minister for Justice, told High Court judge Mr Justice Paul Coffey today that Conor Freeman was sentenced by Dublin Circuit Criminal Court last week "arising out of similar circumstances" and this information had been sent to the US, which may affect the extradition request. Freeman (21), of Glenageary Court, Dun Laoghaire, Dublin was jailed by Dublin Circuit Criminal Court last Tuesday for just under three years after pleading guilty to knowingly engaging in the possession of the proceeds of crime – namely 142.75682712 Bitcoin.
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