Lawyer hopes Hashflare co-founders can 'self-deport' after sentencing
Hashflare co-founders Sergei Potapenko and Ivan Turogin received deportation letters from the US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) while under bail conditions restricting their travel. The letters contradict a court order from Judge Robert Lasnik. Both pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud, defrauding users of over $550 million between 2015 and 2019 and raising $25 million for a non-existent digital bank. They were indicted in October 2022, arrested in Estonia, and extradited to the US in May 2024. Despite facing up to 20 years in prison, they have been free on bail since July 2024. Their attorney noted conflicting directives from federal authorities and mentioned that they now carry documentation stating DHS deferred their deportation for one year. The defense aims to convince the judge to allow them to self-deport to Estonia, arguing no actual financial harm occurred to Hashflare customers.
