Overview
- On Jan. 21, Judge Beryl A. Howell entered a final forfeiture order transferring Helix-linked assets to the U.S. government.
- The Justice Department says the government obtained legal title last week to cryptocurrencies, real estate, and monetary holdings exceeding $400 million seized from Larry Dean Harmon.
- Court records show Helix processed about 354,468 bitcoin between 2014 and 2017, with much of it routed to or from darknet markets that integrated the service via an API.
- Harmon pleaded guilty in August 2021 to conspiracy to commit money laundering and was sentenced in November 2024 to 36 months in prison, three years of supervised release, and forfeiture penalties.
- IRS Criminal Investigation and the FBI Washington Field Office led the case, tracing tens of millions from darknet markets with support from DOJ offices, FinCEN coordination, and assistance from Belize authorities through the U.S. Embassy in Belmopan.