Thor lives in Missouri? Forger raked in Bitcoin for 30,000 fake IDs

Even arsenic Wall Street goliaths heap into Bitcoin, small-time criminals inactive usage the world’s largest cryptocurrency to get paid.

On Wednesday, James Watt, a 26-year-old Indiana resident, was sentenced to 3 years of probation by a US justice for forging an estimated 30,000 fake IDs, according to tribunal papers.

Watt worked for an unnamed website that advertised itself arsenic “Your #1 Trusted Source for Fake IDs.”

14 Bitcoin

Over 4 years, his employer, who wasn’t named successful tribunal documents, paid Watt 14 Bitcoin, oregon astir $1.4 million.

While prosecutors said galore of Watt’s clients were astir apt underage assemblage students who wanted to portion alcohol, the authorities besides recovered fake IDs for older adults.

Watt was skilled. To advertise his abilities, the website showed customers an ID helium had faked for Thor, the Marvel superhero played by histrion Chris Hemsworth successful Hollywood blockbusters, according to tribunal documents.

When national authorities searched Watt’s home, they recovered the mock Missouri ID for the Norse god, who seemingly lives connected “Big Hammer Way” successful Jefferson City, the authorities capital.

“Watt astir became a millionaire simply done the manufacturing and mailing of thousands of fake IDs, fundamentally moving a one-man [Bureau of Motor Vehicles],” said John Childress, acting US Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana, successful a statement.

Lawyers for James Watt didn’t instantly respond to a petition for comment.

Public database

The Watt lawsuit is simply a reminder that Bitcoin, contempt its expanding acceptance successful the halls of accepted finance, is inactive a instrumentality for criminals.

The cryptocurrency archetypal gained wide prominence done Silk Road, the acheronian web marketplace wherever users bought and sold drugs with Bitcoin, among different illicit exchanges.

Authorities rapidly learned to way Bitcoin transactions, which hap connected a pseudonymous nationalist database anyone tin access.

In 2013, the authorities arrested Ross Ulbricht, the relation of Silk Road, whom President Donald Trump pardoned successful January.

As portion of the Justice Department’s galore transgression investigations and arrests, authorities person seized billions of dollars worthy of Bitcoin.

That includes Watt’s $1.4 million, which the authorities seized nether a November forfeiture order.

Ben Weiss is simply a Dubai-based newsman for DL News. Got a tip? Email him astatine [email protected].