High-Profile Case in Manhattan Federal Court
In a high-profile case taking place in Manhattan federal court, two brothers, both alumni of MIT, are facing serious charges linked to the alleged theft of $25 million in cryptocurrency within a mere 12 seconds. The siblings, Anton and James Peraire-Bueno, stand accused of conspiracy, wire fraud, and money laundering—each of these offenses potentially sentencing them to up to 20 years in prison.
Allegations and Defense
The prosecution has branded their actions as a groundbreaking fraudulent scheme, specifically an exploit involving maximal extractable value (MEV) from the Ethereum blockchain that occurred in April 2023. However, the brothers’ legal representatives argue that their maneuvering of “predatory” trading bots did not breach any laws, claiming it was simply a clever tactic in an unregulated environment.
Proceedings and Evidence
The proceedings are expected to extend through the first week of November, as both brothers have rejected a plea bargain. Prosecutors contend that the Peraire-Bueno brothers meticulously orchestrated the crypto theft over a span of three months, suggesting that they conducted online searches such as “how to wash crypto” and “top crypto lawyers” as part of their planning.
Defense Strategy
Their defense team seeks to have this Google search history dismissed, asserting that these inquiries were made during confidential discussions with legal counsel after facing threats from unidentified attackers known as [details omitted].
