The FBI returns 3,879 BTC ($ 190 million) to Sony Life after it was confiscated from an embezzled employee

The US Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has taken its first legal steps to obtain 3,879 Bitcoins (approx. 190 million US dollars) – allegedly confiscated from an alleged embezzler – to Sony Life Insurance, a subsidiary of Tokyo resident Sony Group.

Follow Letter of complaint Filed in the Carolina District Court on December 20 for bank account confiscation, Sony Life employee Rei Ishii reportedly “raised his hand” in May when the company attempted to transfer money between financial accounts.

Ishii allegedly forged the transaction and transferred the money to his bank account in La Jolla, California. After Ishii received the funds, Ishii quickly bought 3,879 BTC on the Coinbase exchange and transferred it to a cold wallet for safekeeping.

The FBI also claims Ishii sent ransom emails to his manager (who Ishii used personal information to set up a Coinbase account with) and several Sony executives using an anonymous method. Life in May, though unclear is what made him do it.

“If we accept the settlement, we will return the money,” Ishii wrote in an email. In addition to sending out emails, Ishii also threatened that “if you want to file a criminal complaint, the money will not be reclaimed”. But that’s not entirely impossible for the FBI.

“Based on evidence discovered during the FBI investigation, a recovery order was approved in June 2021. That money was seized by law enforcement on December 1, 2021, “the South Carolina District Attorney said said.

As a result, Ishii was charged with a crime in Japan while Bitcoin was being transferred to a wallet address controlled by the FBI’s San Diego office.

“Our goal is to return stolen funds to the victims of this outrageous theft, and today’s action is helping us do that,” added US Attorney General Randy Grossman.

Commenting on the investigation, Grossman also warned that “criminals should be aware that cryptocurrencies cannot be relied on to hide illegal profits from law enforcement radar.”

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