“Bitcoin Rodney” Faces Decades in Prison as Feds Expand HyperFund Charges
The post “Bitcoin Rodney” Faces Decades in Prison as Feds Expand HyperFund Charges appeared on BitcoinEthereumNews.com.
The legal noose is tightening around Rodney Burton, the high-profile crypto promoter better known online as “Bitcoin Rodney.” U.S. federal prosecutors have dramatically expanded the charges against him, turning what was once a narrow case into a sweeping indictment tied to one of the largest alleged crypto frauds in recent years. If convicted, Rodeny Burton could spend decades behind bars. At the center of the case is HyperFund, a $1.8 billion cryptocurrency scheme that prosecutors say operated for nearly four years while falsely promising guaranteed returns to investors around the world. A Superseding Indictment Raises the Stakes According to a superseding indictment announced by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Maryland, Bitcoin Rodney now faces 11 federal charges. These include conspiracy to commit wire fraud, two counts of wire fraud, seven counts of money laundering, and operating an unlicensed money transmitting business. The potential penalties are severe. Each wire fraud charge carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison, while each money laundering count can add up to 10 years. The unlicensed money transmission charge brings an additional five-year maximum. Collectively, the exposure marks a dramatic escalation from Burton’s original January 2024 charges, which were limited to two counts related to money transmission. From Airport Arrest to Detention Without Bail Rodney Burton was arrested in January 2024 at Miami International Airport while attempting to board a one-way flight to the United Arab Emirates. Federal prosecutors successfully argued that he posed an extreme flight risk, leading a judge to deny bail. He has remained in custody since. The timing of the arrest, combined with the international nature of the HyperFund operation, has become a central theme in the government’s case as prosecutors argue Bitcoin Rodney was deeply aware of the scheme’s instability and legal exposure. How HyperFund Allegedly Worked…
