‘Doctor Bitcoin’ Pleads Guilty to Illegal Cash-to-Crypto Scheme
Jun 29, 2021 · Sourced to the U.S. Department of Justice
A Richardson man who calls himself “Doctor Bitcoin” has pleaded guilty to illegally operating a cash-to-cryptocurrency conversion business.
Defendants
- Mark Alexander Hopkins — age 42 · Richardson, Texas · pleaded guilty
Charges
Operation of an unlicensed money transmitting business
18 U.S.C. § 1960Max: five years in federal prisonMark Alexander Hopkins· pleaded guilty
From the announcement
“This defendant ignored federal law and allowed fraudsters to use Bitcoin to operate under the radar of law enforcement,”
“We are determined to rid the Bitcoin marketplace of anyone who knowingly helps criminal actors stash illegal profits inside crypto wallets.”
“I’m set up as a marketing company, so tell them you’re paying for a marketing campaign,”
Investigating agencies
Case details
- Prosecuting office
- Northern District of Texas
- Assets
- BTC
Primary source
Every fact above is drawn from the Department of Justice's own announcement — a public-domain government record.
Read the original DOJ release →This is a research and reference page compiled from public DOJ announcements, not legal advice. Details reflect the government's statements as of its release date and may not capture later developments such as appeals, dismissals, or overturned convictions. Defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.