Man Charged in $110 Million Cryptocurrency Scheme

Avraham Eisenberg, 27, from Puerto is accused of committing a $110 million cryptocurrency fraud according to court documents. He allegedly manipulated prices of perpetual futures contracts on Mango Markets, which allowed him to steal cryptocurrency from the exchange and its customers. He was arrested in San Juan, Puerto Rico on December 26, 2022 and is currently in detention, per a criminal complaint.

According to court documents. He allegedly manipulated prices of perpetual futures contracts on Mango Markets, which allowed him to steal cryptocurrency from the exchange and its customers.

Exploiting decentralized finance platforms is the new frontier of old school financial crimes in which criminals abuse emerging technologies for their own personal gain. With this prosecution, the Criminal Division is sending the message that no matter the mechanism used to commit market manipulation and fraud, we will work to hold those responsible to account.

said Assistant Attorney General Kenneth A. Polite, Jr. of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division

Mango Markets is a decentralized cryptocurrency exchange that offers various services to investors, including purchasing, borrowing and trading cryptocurrencies and cryptocurrency-based financial products. It is run by the Mango Decentralized Autonomous Organization (Mango DAO), which operates with its own cryptocurrency token, MNGO. Holding MNGO tokens grants investors the right to vote on modifications to the Mango Markets platform and decisions regarding the governance of the Mango DAO.

As alleged, Avraham Eisenberg manipulated the Mango Markets cryptocurrency exchange in order to obtain over $100 million in illicit profits for himself, Through his scheme, Eisenberg left others holding the bag. Market manipulation is illegal in all of its forms, and this office is committed to prosecuting such schemes wherever they occur – including the cryptocurrency markets

said U.S. Attorney Damian Williams for the Southern District of New York

The FBI is leading an investigation into the matter, with support from Homeland Security Investigations and IRS Criminal Investigation. Meanwhile, the Commodity Futures Trading Commission and Securities and Exchange Commission have launched separate civil proceedings.

The case is being prosecuted by the National Cryptocurrency Enforcement Team’s Trial Attorney Jessica Peck, along with Assistant U.S. Attorneys Thomas Burnett and Noah Solowiejczyk of the Southern District of New York.