Cryptocurrency Fraud, Money Laundering, and Manipulation Defense
Scott has first-chair trial and investigation experience to defend and counsel individuals in the cryptocurrency market.
As a federal prosecutor, Scott tried the first-ever federal criminal case involving the manipulation of a cryptocurrency through an algorithm that placed over $300 million in spoof orders and wash trades. As a senior supervisor at DOJ, Scott also supervised investigations and prosecutions involving Ponzi schemes for cryptocurrency investments, “rug pulls” involving NFTs, “pig butchering” schemes, “cherry picking” schemes involving cryptocurrency futures, and investment-fraud schemes involving various cryptocurrencies.
By coupling his deep knowledge of blockchains and trading protocols with his trial experience in cryptocurrency cases, Scott now defends individuals facing a range of allegations of fraud, money laundering, and manipulation in the cryptocurrency markets.
Cryptocurrency Defense
Fraud & Manipulation Defense
Scott defends individuals in investigations and cases involving allegations of fraud and manipulation in the cryptocurrency markets. Scott uses his critical trial experience involving cryptocurrency fraud and manipulation to defend individuals in matters across blockchains and trading protocols, whether decentralized exchanges (“DEXs”) or more traditional centralized exchanges (“CEXs”).
As in other areas, Scott harnesses his trial skills to protect individuals in the emerging cryptocurrency markets. His expertise in navigating the cryptocurrency market ensures that robust defense strategies are tailored to the unique legal and factual issues in this emerging digital space.
Blockchain Analysis
Scott defends individuals in the cryptocurrency market by understanding, investigating, and presenting the full picture of cryptocurrency transactions. This work involves analyzing the movement of assets across wallets, blockchains, and through various defi protocols. Put simply, Scott knows where to look to understand cryptocurrency transactions and can easily explain it to others.
Scott’s ability to dissect and interpret the details of digital transactions is critical to building a strong defense and ensures his clients are well-represented in all phases of a case.
Defi Defense
Scott has first-hand experience in a range of defi protocols at the center of recent enforcement actions, including defi-lending protocols, mixers, and algorithmic trading systems. By blending his traditional trial skills with an insider’s knowledge of cryptocurrencies, Scott defends individuals in all corners of the cryptocurrency markets. His experience with the technological aspects and legal implications of these protocols allows him to effectively advocate for his clients.
Scott’s approach ensures that individuals facing scrutiny in the cryptocurrency space are strategically defended.
Scott’s Representative Experience in Complex Cryptocurrency Cases
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Served as lead trial counsel in a week-long trial in the first-ever trial conviction for conspiracy to commit securities price manipulation under Title 15 involving cryptocurrency and over $300 million in spoof orders and wash trades placed via an automated trading bot.
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Served as lead counsel in the first-ever criminal “cherry picking” scheme against a commodity-trading advisor and CEO of an investment firm involving cryptocurrency futures
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Co-led and supervised an investigation into a former FINRA-registered broker and investment banker at a financial institution who pleaded guilty to defrauding investors as to investments in a private cryptocurrency fund
