McAfee was detained in Spain last year over tax issues.
John McAfee, the founder of U.S. antivirus software company McAfee, and his executive advisor Jimmy Watson were indicted on Friday (5) on seven counts of judicial charges of fraud and conspiracy to commit money laundering. If they are convicted, they will face a maximum of 20 years in prison, but also may have to pay a fine at the same Time.
The indictment alleges that McAfee, Watson and other members of McAfee allegedly bought certain cryptocurrencies at low market prices between December 2017 and October 2018, and then sold them at a profit after artificially pushing up the prices by publicly singing their praises via Twitter. In addition, McAfee and others are suspected of concealing the receipt of payments from startups to promote digital tokens for initial token offerings (ICOs) on Twitter.
Audrey Strauss, acting attorney general for the Southern District of New York, said McAfee and Watson allegedly used social media platforms and took advantage of investors’ enthusiasm for the cryptocurrency market to peddle various cryptocurrencies through false and misleading statements, thereby hiding their true motives.
McAfee, 75, known as the “father of anti-virus software,” is charged along with Watson with one count of conspiracy to commit commodities and securities fraud, one count of conspiracy to commit securities and peddling fraud, one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering, two counts of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and two counts of substantive wire fraud. He was detained in Spain last October over tax issues, while Watson, 40, was arrested in Texas on Thursday (4).
Recent Comments