Fugitive Daren Li sentenced to 20 years in the U.S. for $73M international crypto scam
Fugitive Daren Li received a 20-year U.S. prison sentence in absentia for his role in a $73 million international crypto scam.Summary
A federal judge in California sentenced Daren Li, a dual national of China and St. Kitts and Nevis, to 20 years in prison and three years of supervised release for his involvement in a $73 million international cryptocurrency investment conspiracy. Li, who is currently a fugitive after removing his electronic monitoring device in December, pleaded guilty in November 2024 to conspiring to launder funds stolen from American victims through crypto scams operated from compounds in Cambodia.
Li and his co-conspirators targeted victims via social media, dating apps, and unsolicited contact, building trust before luring them into using spoof platforms for fake crypto investments or tricking them into sending funds via wire transfer under the guise of fake tech support.
The Justice Department confirmed they are working with global law enforcement to locate and return Li to serve his sentence. The article notes that Cambodia has become a major hub for these "pig butchering" crypto scams, which accounted for billions in losses and nearly 41% of all crypto security incidents in 2025.
(Source：CoinDesk)