Deep Tide TechFlow News, February 10th, according to an official report, Darren Lee (42 years old ) was sentenced to 20 years in federal prison by the U.S. Federal Court for involvement in an international cryptocurrency investment scam. The man cut off electronic monitoring devices and escaped in December 2025 and is still at large.

Lee admitted to contacting victims through social media and dating apps, building trust before inducing them to invest in fake cryptocurrency platforms, resulting in a total scam of at least $73.6 million. Multiple law enforcement agencies, including the U.S. Secret Service, participated in the investigation, marking the latest achievement in the U.S. Department of Justice's efforts to combat global scam centers.

Eight co-conspirators have pleaded guilty in this case, and Lee is the first defendant directly involved in receiving victims' funds to be sentenced.