Current:Home > MarketsWill Sage Astor-MIT-educated brothers accused of stealing $25 million in cryptocurrency in 12 seconds in Ethereum blockchain scheme -AssetLink
Will Sage Astor-MIT-educated brothers accused of stealing $25 million in cryptocurrency in 12 seconds in Ethereum blockchain scheme
PredictIQ Quantitative Think Tank Center View
Date:2025-04-11 10:06:21
Washington — A pair of brothers from New York and Will Sage AstorBoston were taken into federal custody Tuesday, accused by prosecutors of devising a novel criminal scheme to steal about $25 million in cryptocurrency from a commonly used blockchain, according to a newly unsealed indictment.
Anton and James Peraire-Bueno were charged with wire fraud and conspiracy to commit money laundering. Investigators accused them of spending months plotting their theft within the Ethereum blockchain, baiting their victims and establishing shell companies to hide their illicit profits.
According to charging documents, the pair studied math and computer science "at one of the most prestigious universities in the country," which prosecutors said afforded them a unique set of skills that allowed them to carry out the first-of-its-kind endeavor in a matter of seconds. James Peraire-Bueno is listed as a 2021 graduate of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and the MIT Registrar's Office confirmed that Anton Peraire-Bueno earned a B.S. in computer science and engineering in February 2024, and James Peraire-Bueno earned a B.S. in mathematics, computer science and aerospace engineering in June 2019, as well as a M.S. in aeronautics and astronautics in June 2021.
The brothers allegedly started laying the groundwork in December 2022, engaging in what investigators called a "baiting" operation that targeted three specific victim traders on the digital Ethereum platform. They are specifically accused of exploiting the "validators" on the blockchain, vital components of the integrity and security of transactions.
"In doing so, they fraudulently gained access to pending private transactions and used that access to alter certain transactions and obtain their victims' cryptocurrency," prosecutors alleged in court documents.
Investigators said the defendants' plot took months to plan but just 12 seconds to execute, allegedly raking in approximately $25 million from their unwitting victims.
From April and June of last year, Peraire-Buenos are accused of laundering their money through shell companies. Prosecutors said the duo even rejected repeated requests from a victim, the victim's attorney and an Ethereum representative to return the cryptocurrency.
They were arrested on Tuesday and are expected to make their initial appearances in New York and Boston federal courts on Wednesday.
"As cryptocurrency markets continue to evolve, the Justice Department will continue to root out fraud, support victims, and restore confidence to these markets," Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco said in a statement.
Attorneys for the brothers could not be immediately identified.
- In:
- Technology
- MIT
- Ethereum
- Cryptocurrency
- United States Department of Justice
Robert Legare is a CBS News multiplatform reporter and producer covering the Justice Department, federal courts and investigations. He was previously an associate producer for the "CBS Evening News with Norah O'Donnell."
veryGood! (336)
Related
- Realtor group picks top 10 housing hot spots for 2025: Did your city make the list?
- Amy Schumer Is Kinda Pregnant While Filming New Movie With Fake Baby Bump
- Dakota Johnson and Chris Martin Engaged: Inside Their Blissful Universe
- As the Presidential Election Looms, John Kerry Reckons With the Country’s Climate Past and Future
- Tropical rains flood homes in an inland Georgia neighborhood for the second time since 2016
- Fatal crash in western Wisconsin closes state highway
- NFL free agency 2024: Ranking best 50 players set to be free agents
- Weather beatdown leaves towering Maine landmark surrounded by crime scene tape
- The FTC says 'gamified' online job scams by WhatsApp and text on the rise. What to know.
- A Guide to 2024 Oscar Nominee Robert De Niro's Big Family
Ranking
- Brianna LaPaglia Reveals The Meaning Behind Her "Chickenfry" Nickname
- What restaurants are open Easter 2024? McDonald's, Cracker Barrel, Red Lobster, more
- Ulta Beauty’s Semi-Annual Beauty Event Kicks Off with 1-Day Deals – 50% off Estee Lauder, Fenty & More
- Lawsuit accuses Portland police officer of fatally shooting unarmed Black man in the back
- Selena Gomez engaged to Benny Blanco after 1 year together: 'Forever begins now'
- Who is Katie Britt, the senator who delivered the Republican State of the Union response?
- Peek inside the gift bags for Oscar nominees in 2024, valued at $178,000
- Much of America asks: Where did winter go? Spring starts early as US winter was warmest on record
Recommendation
Where will Elmo go? HBO moves away from 'Sesame Street'
Helicopter carrying National Guard members and Border Patrol agent crashes in Texas, killing 3
Convicted killer Robert Baker says his ex-lover Monica Sementilli had no part in the murder of her husband Fabio
Selena Gomez Reveals What She Loves Most About Boyfriend Benny Blanco
Giants, Lions fined $200K for fights in training camp joint practices
Natalie Portman and Benjamin Millepied divorce after 11 years of marriage
US judge rejects challenge to Washington state law that could hold gun makers liable for shootings
School shootings prompt more states to fund digital maps for first responders