This "crypt queen" has become the crown of the FBI's most wanted list.
Luja Ignatova, accused of deceiving more than $ 4 billion in investors, has been added to the Federal Intelligence Service's list of 10 wanted fugitives.Law enforcement announced Thursday. The 42-year-oldhas joined the list of suspects, including suspected murderers and drug cartel leaders.
She is the 11th woman on the top 10 list in 72 years of history.
Ignatova, whose nickname is "Cryptoqueen", has been in operation since 2017. She and her partner have founded OneCoin, a Bulgarian-based company that sells cryptocurrencies that authorities claim to be fraudulent. According to the FBI, millions of investors around the world have been tricked into donating money to her since launching OneCoin in 2014.
Federal Authority, Offers up to $ 100,000 rewardsfor information that leads to her capture. They said she might be traveling with armed guards.
"There are so many victims around the world that have been financially devastated by this," said Ronald Simco, a special agent investigating the case from the FBI's New York Field Office.
"We want to bring her to justice."
The federal government said Ignatova was first charged in the US District Court in the Southern District of New York in October 2017. I believe she may have been informed that she was under federal and international investigation. She traveled from Bulgaria. She arrived in Athens, Greece on October 25, 2017 and has not been seen since.
She speaks English, German and Bulgarian and may be using a fake passport. She has her brown eyes and black hair, but investigators warn that she may have changed her appearance.
Ignatova faces one count each for wire fraud, wire fraud, money laundering, securities fraud, and securities fraud.
Shimko lived in luxury Ignatova, she may not fully understand the complexity of cryptocurrencies, but she fooled into OneCoin's impressive resume and marketing. She said she targeted people who were victims.
"To become OneCoin and drive its growth It was created, "she said at a 2016 London event shared by the FBI. "I strongly believe that this will be the best cryptocurrency in the world."
She went on to insist that "OneCoin is easy to use and OneCoin is suitable for everyone."
