According to Decrypt, the U.S. Department of Justice has charged a 24-year-old man from Connecticut, Elmin Redzepagic, with posing as a "client investment in crypto assets" to scam clients out of funds, which were then transferred to offshore crypto casino Stake for gambling, resulting in investors losing approximately $950,000. Prosecutors say he disguised himself as a member of a "cryptocurrency mentor The Chef" team and used fees and other reasons to induce additional payments, occasionally paying "comfort money" to maintain the scam. The man has been indicted by a federal grand jury on 21 counts, with a maximum sentence of 375 years if all charges are proven; he pleaded not guilty to all charges in court this week and was released on a $500,000 bond.