Today the United States Department of Justice announced the indictment (and in some cases additional charges) for 12 individuals. The defendants are charged in RICO conspiracy for over $263,000,000 in cryptocurrency theft, money laundering, and home break-ins.

Each individual listed was (in some capacity) involved in the COM(munity) scene.

This is the first time, to the best of our knowledge, a group of primarily English speaking, loosely affiliated, cybercriminals are in a RICO case.

RICO, the United States "Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act", passed in 1970, is generally reserved for organized crime. It was designed to combat organized crime and allows prosecutors to charge individuals involved in an ongoing criminal enterprise.

RICO charges are not a joke. These are extremely serious charges.

RICO charges allow multiple people to be tied to a conspiracy and amplify any/all charges. A single RICO charge is worth 20 years in Federal Prison and can extend to life in prison.

The United States Department of Justice slapping COM-scene people with a RICO charge is a sign they're not playing around with cryptocurrency fraud.

The individual indicted are as follows:
- MALONE LAM a/k/a "King Greavys", "7", "$$$", "Kg", "Anne Hathaway"
- MARLON FERRO a/k/a "Marlo", "GothFerrari"
- HAMZA DOOST a/k/a "Scyllia", "¢"
- CONOR FLANSBURG a/k/a "OO", "Green Room", "d0uu0b"
- KUNAL MEHTA a/k/a "Papa", "The Accountant", "Shrek", "Neil"
- ETHAN YARALLY a/k/a "Rand", "15%"
- CODY DEMIRTAS a/k/a "K O", "Kody"
- AAKAASH ANAND a/k/a "Light", "Dark"
- EVAN TANGEMAN a/k/a "E", "Tate", "Evan | Exchanger"
- JOEL CORTES a/k/a "J"
- [Unidentified 1] a/k/a "~_~", "Squiggly", "CHEN"
- [Unidentified 2] a/k/a "Danny", "Meech"
- TUCKER DESMOND

The full article, released by the Department of Justice, defines the roles of each individual, the charge they carry, a total sum of money stolen and/or items illegally acquired using stolen money, and additional (unlisted) co-conspirators.

Note: per the RICO charge, if the Judge rules the individual was involved in widespread fraud or violent crime, individuals may face a punishment of life in prison. Hence, each person listed may eligible for life in prison

Time being faced:
- MALONE LAM: 60 years
- MARLON FERRO: 60 years
- HAMZA DOOST: 40 years
- CONOR FLANSBURG: 40 years
- KUNAL MEHTA: 40 years
- ETHAN YARALLY: 40 years
- CODY DEMIRTAS: 40 years
- AAKAASH ANAND: 60 years
- EVAN TANGEMAN: 40 years
- JOEL CORTES: 40 years
- [Unidentified 1] - 60 years
- [Unidentified 2] - 60 years
- TUCKER DESMOND - 20 years