This article is from www.blocknews.com.br and the original article can be read here in Portuguese
Continuing the “Merchants of the Temple” operation, the Minas Gerais Public Ministry (MPMG) and the Minas Gerais Civil Police seized and blocked this week a total of approximately R$4 million, of which about R$1.2 million in cryptocurrencies, according to figures released on Monday (6).
The operation was launched in May with the aim of dismantling a criminal scheme developed in a complex pyramid composition to raise financial resources under the promise of high profits. According to investigations, the criminal organization used religious faith as the main means of obtaining investors for the alleged financial services they offered.
This week’s seizure included the amount of 2,53198787 bitcoins and 86,95475389 ethers, totaling BRL 1,115,692.23 in amounts released on Monday (6). The cryptocurrencies were transferred to an MPMG wallet created specifically for this purpose. In addition, according to the investigators, the approximate amount of BRL 450,000 was blocked on other cryptocurrency exchanges.
Through B3, BRL 41,376.10 was blocked by a custody agent. In one of the main brokers used by the criminal organization, agents reported that the amount of R$ 257,974.70 was blocked. In addition, a total of BRL 2,109,374.46 was blocked from the accounts of those investigated. The total amount seized amounts to approximately R$ 4 million.
Incompatible values
Considering the amounts seized and the capital needed to guarantee the return of the money to investors, members of the MPMG and the Civil Police came to the conclusion that there was no compatibility in the accounts.
According to the investigation, in just one month of this year, the amount of R$4,656,824.00 was transferred to victims and advisors. Taking into account the rate of 8.33% per month of interest promised as part of the coup to capture victims, the capital needed to guarantee the return of the money delivered to the criminal organization would be R$ 55,904,249.00.
“The money was not invested, on the contrary, it was ostentatiously spent by the investigated”, highlighted the representatives of the bodies.
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