San Francisco Man Sentenced to 87 Months for Money Laundering with Bitcoin in Ecstasy Import Scheme

On March 14th, COINOTAG News highlighted the conviction of 29-year-old John Khuu from San Francisco, California. Following his admission to conspiring to conduct money laundering and operate an unlicensed money transmission business, Khuu has been sentenced to 87 months in federal prison. Reports indicate that his illegal activities involved the importation of ecstasy from Germany, which he sold on various dark web platforms, accepting Bitcoin for transactions. Khuu allegedly converted the Bitcoin earnings into U.S. dollars, facilitating the laundering of illicit funds through extensive financial maneuvers across multiple accounts. Additionally, he faces separate charges in Northern California related to the illegal importation of a Schedule I controlled substance. His arrest is part of Operation Crypto Runner, a comprehensive investigation launched by the Department of Justice (DOJ), the United States Secret Service (USSS), and the Postal Inspection Service (PIS), which began in November 2022.