Roman Sterlingov, the 36-year-old operator of the notorious cryptocurrency mixer Bitcoin Fog, has been sentenced to 12.5 years in a U.S. prison for laundering hundreds of millions of dollars for criminal enterprises. Operating from 2011 to 2021, Bitcoin Fog processed over 1.2 million Bitcoin, valued at approximately $400 million at the time of the transactions.

In addition to his prison term, Sterlingov has been ordered to forfeit $395,563,025.39, relinquish $1.76 million in seized assets, and surrender control of Bitcoin Fog’s cryptocurrency wallet, which contains over 1,345 Bitcoin currently valued at more than $103 million.

Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Nicole M. Argentieri stated, “Roman Sterlingov laundered over $400 million in criminal proceeds through Bitcoin Fog, his cryptocurrency ‘mixing’ service that was open for business to criminals looking to hide dirty money.”

Bitcoin Fog functioned as a cryptocurrency mixer, or “tumbler,” obscuring the origins and destinations of cryptocurrency transactions by blending them into pooled funds before redistributing them to new addresses. This service was exploited by criminals to conceal proceeds from various illicit activities, including drug trafficking, computer crimes, identity theft, and the sexual exploitation of children.

After the sentencing, US Attorney Graves stated, “Today’s sentence sends an unmistakable message: those who help criminals with online payments for their illegal activities will face serious penalties.”