TexasBitcoin
Guilty pleaSouthern Texas

Houston area unlicensed cryptocurrency business results in conviction

Jun 1, 2022 · Sourced to the U.S. Department of Justice

This case reached the guilty plea stage in the Department of Justice's public record. Everything below reflects only what the government itself announced, and links to the original release.

A 49-year-old out-of-state man has pleaded guilty to running an unlicensed money transmitting business

Announced

Jun 1, 2022

Status

Guilty plea

Defendants

  • Hien Ngoc Voage 49 · Seattle, Washington · pleaded guilty

Charges

  • Operating an Unlicensed Money Transmitting Business

    Max: five years in federal prisonHien Ngoc Vo· pleaded guilty

Financial actions

  • fine: $250,000Possible maximum fine faced at sentencing for running an unlicensed money transmitting business

Investigating agencies

Federal Bureau of Investigation

Case details

Prosecuting office
Southern District of Texas
Judge
Lee H. Rosenthal, Chief U.S. District Judge
Assets
Bitcoin
Anti-Money Laundering / Financial ComplianceCryptocurrencyFederal Prosecution And SentencingUnlicensed Money Transmitting Business

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.