Crypto Launderer Gets Ten Years for $20M Dark Web Scheme
A U.S. court has sentenced Indian citizen Anurag Pramod Murarka to ten years in prison for running an international operation to launder $20M through cryptocurrency transactions.
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Murarka was found guilty in early January 2025. Investigators discovered that for two years, he had been operating under a false name, providing laundering services on darknet marketplaces. He used encrypted messaging apps for communication, and payments were made exclusively in cryptocurrency, transferred to specific wallets.
To convert the crypto into cash, Murarka worked with an Indian company and employed unconventional money-handling methods. Cash was delivered in envelopes or concealed in books at prearranged locations. Authorities noted that he intentionally sought to collaborate with criminals, including drug traffickers and other members of the illicit trade.
“This case highlights the global scope of cybercrime, as well as the demand for diligence and collaboration in fighting money laundering — a devastating second layer of criminal conduct,” said Carlton S. Shier, IV, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky.
When Murarka was taken into custody, police seized all available cash and leveraged his online accounts to block additional fraudulent transactions worth about $1.4 million. They also uncovered and confiscated fake pharmaceuticals and technical gear. Murarka will need to complete at least 85% of his sentence before being eligible for probation.
The government took this opportunity to remind citizens of the inherent risks of cryptocurrencies and illegal cash-out services, encouraging them to avoid suspicious financial dealings.
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