The United States has increased the reward for information leading to the arrest of OneCoin founder Ruja Ignatova, who is wanted in the country for alleged crimes of fraud and scam.
According to information from the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), that country is now offering USD 5 million to anyone who provides information or collaborates with the capture of the woman also known as the “Crypto Queen,” who is part of the list of the 10 most wanted fugitives by that police agency since 2022.
In this way, the North American country significantly increases the reward for Ignatova, recalling that in 2022, the FBI offered USD 100,000 for the information to finally arrest her. The reward was increased in 2023 to USD 250,000.
In January 2023, the “Crypto Queen” of OneCoin showed signs of life after 5 years of disappearance. The woman tried to sell one of her luxurious properties in London for around USD 12 billion.
The new reward for the capture of the “Crypto Queen” is part of the Transnational Organized Crime Rewards Program, carried out by the United States Department of State.
Ruja Ignatova is the founder of OneCoin, a cryptocurrency platform accused of defrauding more than $4 billion through a pyramid scheme. According to authorities, the scheme was operational from 2014 until its collapse in 2017.
This has been recognized as one of the biggest cryptocurrency scams ever committed. It is a historic case that was even brought to television.
Back in the day, OneCoin operated through a network of promoters, who were in charge of inciting users to invest in supposed tokens. However, it was a fake project since these assets never existed.
Ignatova is charged in the United States, India, Germany and her home country of Bulgaria with various crimes, including conspiracy to commit wire fraud, conspiracy to commit money laundering and securities fraud.
$5 million is the bounty on the “Crypto Queen.” Source: FBI.
She will continue to flee, authorities say
Although the reward for Ignatova's capture has increased by 1,900%, US authorities suggest that the fugitive will continue to flee, accompanied by armed bodyguards. They also suspect that Ignatova underwent plastic surgery to alter her appearance.
Some of OneCoin's collaborators have already seen the full force of the law fall on them. For example, in March 2023, Irina Dilkinska, one of the ringleaders of this cryptocurrency pyramid scheme, was extradited to the United States. There she was charged with conspiracy to commit wire fraud and money laundering.
That same year, OneCoin co-founder Karl Greenwood was sentenced to 20 years in prison for these crimes. More than $300 million was also seized from him.
