According to the Daily Telegraph, an Australian judge criticized the behavior of a virtual currency fraudster. It is understood that the fraudster used 4 young and vulnerable women to carry out criminal activities for him, and the amount involved reached 1 million Australian dollars.
Gang leader Yi Zhong hired Monique Contemplacion, Michelle Duong, Cynthia Woo and Melike Sati Pusun, all ages 22 to 24. Between July and August 2020, all four had deposited hundreds of thousands of dollars in Sydney Bitcoin Dealers.
Judge Gareth Christofi said at Sydney's Downing Centre Magistrates' Court that Zhong Yi would specifically target young women with serious mental health problems. He is now awaiting the court's verdict.
Although all four women were prosecuted, they were spared from prison.
The court learned that the women showed identification documents and filled out forms saying the money was not illegally obtained, and then exchanged $100,000 to $374,000 in cash from an LV cylinder bag for bitcoin, which happened 3 or 4 times.
Bitcoin then spun around in the digital wallet, which was difficult to trace, and then the bitcoin was returned to the favorite customer.
In sentencing the four women, Judge Christofi took into account that none of the women had previous criminal records except Forsun. Pusun was sentenced to disciplinary orders for drug supply and involvement in criminal acts. And her role in the criminal gang is also very light, these women are driven by monetary benefits to do so, but there is no indication that these people make a lot of money. One of the women received only $800 after depositing $100,000.
According to psychological reports submitted to the court, the four women all had a history of severe mental illness, ranging from complex post-traumatic stress syndrome to depression and anxiety. Three of them had suicide records.
The court learned that Zhong Yi first became friends with Woo, a business marketing student at Macquarie University.
Judge Christofi mentioned in the report submitted by Woo's lawyers: "She believes that he (Zhongyi) is honest and takes good care of her. She thought he was a successful entrepreneur, and she had doubts when Zhong Yi asked for help with the money, but she still wanted to be friends with Zhong Yi, and she knew that these transactions made no sense at all. ”
Woo's lawyer told the court that her motivation was to be friends with Zhongyi, not to make money.
The court learned that after Connecticion met Zhongyi, she quickly asked her friend Pusun through the private information software Wickr Me if she wanted to make money, and recruited Pusun.
Police records submitted to court show that the women used all the money they earned to buy luxury belts and bags and to stay in luxury hotels.
Judge Christofi said he believed it was in the public interest to have the women serve their sentences in the community, that the women had a lower risk of recidivism and that they were remorseful.
"It is a preference to target young and vulnerable women with serious mental health problems. If he likes to target them for his own benefit, he should be punished more severely. ”
Contemplacion, Duong and Woo all pleaded guilty and were convicted of involvement in criminal activity. Three were sentenced to 18 months in community disciplinary orders.
Pusun was charged with the same charges and convicted of an intensive disciplinary order under 18 months of supervision.
Zhong Yi pleaded guilty to five counts, including involvement in criminal activity and the provision of illicit drugs, to be pronounced in Downing Centre District Court at a later date.