An Oracle employee with a unique nighttime persona as a party entertainer is now under investigation for his alleged involvement in a $54 million crypto money laundering scheme.
Brian Krewson, who goes by the alias “Mr. Poto” during his party entertainer gig, has not been officially charged with any criminal activity, but he finds himself at the center of a contentious investigation.
Krewson Allegedly Assisted in Laundering $54 Million in Crypto
The allegations revolve around Krewson’s purported assistance in storing and laundering the substantial sum of crypto for his two associates, Christopher Castelluzzo and Luke Atwell.
Both Castelluzzo and Atwell were convicted of cocaine trafficking in 2016, receiving prison sentences of 21 and 19 years, respectively.
The investigation suggests that Krewson’s involvement in this cryptocurrency operation extends beyond mere appearance, as he is alleged to have played a pivotal role in concealing and moving these illicit funds.
Before their incarceration, Atwell and Castelluzzo operated a lucrative narcotics trafficking business, with monthly cocaine sales reportedly ranging from $2.5 million to $3 million.
Authorities Seize over $50 Million in Crypto
Investigators discovered that Atwell sought to obscure the proceeds from dark web drug sales, particularly on the Blue Sky market. He claimed that a portion of those funds was used to acquire a substantial amount of ether, roughly 30,000 tokens, initially valued at just $9,000 but now valued at over $54 million.
Krewson, according to the Justice Department, was promised a share of the crypto for his role in safeguarding it from law enforcement.
A significant part of the evidence incriminating Krewson came from prison calls that Atwell and Castelluzzo made to the Oracle employee. In one such call, they discussed potential destinations for moving the cryptocurrency, considering locations like Malta or the Bahamas, although no final decision was reached.
Despite the assurances Krewson provided to his associates about the security of the cryptocurrency wallets, he ultimately divulged the wallet’s password when law enforcement executed a raid on his residence in July of the previous year.
This action enabled the police to transfer the entire cryptocurrency balance to a wallet controlled by the Department of Justice.
Krewson, who worked as a senior technical support engineer at Oracle from 2015 until recently, has not responded to requests for comments regarding the ongoing investigation.
Castelluzzo’s attempt to recover the funds seized during the raid was unsuccessful, and the Department of Justice’s New Jersey branch recently announced the official seizure of the funds.
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