StellarCrowandClaude Fable 5.1
499fd61f79
Until now only cases 357+ (plus a few older ones) had their linked URLs fetched; the other 252 dossiers held just the text pasted into the spreadsheet, often only the lede. This pass fetches every linked URL for those cases so the full text is on file before link rot takes it. - stage_all.py: new --include-sheet-cases flag that lifts the skip on cases holding spreadsheet articles. Resumable as before. - staging/: raw extracts and index.json for the 252 cases. - sourced-articles.json, case-files-manifest.json: 188 new UNTRIMMED blocks. 179 cases gained at least one fetched article; 73 got none (49 BLOCKED, 18 THIN, 9 DEAD, 4 video/social, 3 ERROR). - sources/*.txt: rebuilt with build_cases.py --all. Sheet pastes are kept; fetched blocks sit beside them under the NOT YET TRIMMED banner. Files previously committed with CRLF are now LF. - wayback-availability.json: Wayback snapshots exist for 73 of the 98 failed URL slots; input for an archive-fetch pass. - README-START-HERE.md: progress note and next step. verify_all.py PASSES (1836 checks). Co-Authored-By: Claude Fable 5.1 <noreply@anthropic.com> Claude-Session: https://claude.ai/code/session_01GZZENdTLzNGsbNy4DyF1yt
185 lines
15 KiB
Plaintext
185 lines
15 KiB
Plaintext
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CASE 449 | Unidentified | February ?, 2024 | USA
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================================================================================================
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DATABASE RECORD
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id 449
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date February ?, 2024
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original_date February ?, 2024
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year 2024
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month 2
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quarter 2024-Q1
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victim Unidentified
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location Winnsboro, Texas
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country USA
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scenario Home Invasion
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description Marlon Ferro ("GothFerrari"), 20, of Santa Ana, California, traveled to Winnsboro, Texas and broke into a victim's home to steal a hardware wallet containing approximately 100 Bitcoin (~$5M at the time), acting as the "burglar of last resort" for a sprawling social engineering conspiracy that stole over $250 million in cryptocurrency.
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kidnappings 0
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violence_torture 0
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drugs_alcohol 0
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weapons 0
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theft 1
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life_taken 0
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money_wanted Bitcoin
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coin_type A hardware wallet containing ~100 Bitcoin, valued at approximately $5,000,000 at time of theft.
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reports United States Attorney's Office
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notes He then laundered the stolen funds through cryptocurrency exchanges.
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has_processed_date 0
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created_at 2026-05-28 15:40:33
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AI SUMMARY [generated at bulk import, NOT verified against sources]
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**Victims:** Unnamed individual. Winnsboro, Wood County, Texas. Held significant Bitcoin in a physical hardware wallet.
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**Attackers:** Marlon Ferro, aka "GothFerrari," 20, Santa Ana, California. Acting as physical burglar for a multi-state social engineering enterprise based in California, Connecticut, New York, Florida, and abroad. Co-conspirators identified victim through database hacking and target identification.
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**Attack Method:** Ferro traveled to Winnsboro, conducted surveillance of residence, broke into the home and stole hardware wallet. No occupants present during burglary. Funds subsequently laundered through crypto exchanges.
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**Violence Used:** Breaking and entering. No occupants present. No physical violence against a person.
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**Crypto Demanded/Stolen:** ~100 Bitcoin, valued at approximately $5,000,000 at time of theft (February 2024).
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**Status:** Ferro arrested May 13, 2025, found with two firearms and fake ID. Pleaded guilty October 17, 2025 to conspiracy to participate in a RICO enterprise. Sentenced May 6, 2026
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LINKED SOURCES
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[url] https://www.justice.gov/usao-dc/pr/gothferrari-sentenced-78-months-prison-role-massive-cryptocurrency-heist
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[url_2] https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/security/crypto-gang-member-gets-65-years-for-role-in-230-million-heist/
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[url_3] https://beincrypto.com/gothferrari-crypto-theft-78-month-sentence/
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[url_4] https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2026/may/7/gothferrari-gets-65-years-role-250m-crypto-theft-conspiracy/
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OTHER LINKED SOURCES
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[THIN] url None — extractor recovered very little; needs the WebFetch path or a site-specific rule
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https://www.justice.gov/usao-dc/pr/gothferrari-sentenced-78-months-prison-role-massive-cryptocurrency-heist
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------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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FETCHED ARTICLE 1
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Source bleepingcomputer.com
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URL https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/security/crypto-gang-member-gets-65-years-for-role-in-230-million-heist/
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Field url_2
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Retrieved 2026-08-06T13:38:13+00:00 via raw HTTP retrieval, deterministic extraction (HTTP 200)
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Language unknown
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Kept paragraphs headline [0] + 1-14 of 34
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Length 3,156 chars
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Integrity sha256 65622cbe36e12f7eafef17eae96a585cdbe26dfa6905bff14a343e31d35d10c0
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Trimmed dropped trailing Picus sponsored-whitepaper promo
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Caveat retrieved from a live page on the date above. Unlike text copied
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from the spreadsheet, there is no second copy to hash it against.
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------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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ORIGINAL (unknown, verbatim as retrieved)
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Crypto gang member gets 6.5 years for role in $230 million heist
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A 20-year-old California man was sentenced to 78 months in prison for serving as a home invader and money launderer in a criminal ring that stole over $250 million in cryptocurrency.
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Marlon Ferro (also known online as GothFerrari and Marlo) was arrested on May 13, 2025, carrying two firearms and a fake identification document. He pleaded guilty in October and was also ordered to pay $2.5 million in restitution and serve three years of supervised release.
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According to court documents, the criminal ring targeted individuals believed to hold significant cryptocurrency between late 2023 and early 2025.
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They used social engineering to trick their victims into giving them access to digital wallets, and when victims stored funds in hardware wallets, the conspiracy shifted to Ferro's expertise in residential burglaries.
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"Marlon Ferro served as the criminal enterprise's instrument of last resort. When his co-conspirators couldn't deceive victims into handing over access to their cryptocurrency or hack their way into digital accounts, they turned to Ferro to break into homes and steal hardware wallets outright," said U.S. Attorney Pirro on Wednesday.
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"This scheme blended sophisticated online fraud with old-fashioned burglary to drain victims of millions of dollars in digital assets."
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In February 2024, Ferro traveled to Winnsboro, Texas, broke into a victim's home, stole a hardware wallet containing approximately 100 Bitcoins (then valued at more than $5 million), and laundered the funds through cryptocurrency exchanges.
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In July, the same year, Ferro flew to New Mexico, monitored a victim's home for several days using a cell phone, and broke in by smashing a window with a brick after accomplices tracking the victim's location through his iCloud account confirmed they had left the residence.
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He also opened a fraudulent digital payment card account using fake identification to enable his accomplices to spend stolen funds at nightclubs and retail locations, and to buy more than $255,000 in designer clothing on their behalf.
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Additionally, after one of the criminal ring's leaders was jailed in September 2024, Ferro continued laundering cryptocurrency to fund the leader's legal defense.
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Last month, 22-year-old Evan Tangeman of Newport Beach, California, was also sentenced to 70 months in prison for laundering funds stolen in the same massive cryptocurrency heist.
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In all, fourteen suspects were charged in September 2024 and May 2025 with a RICO conspiracy involving over 4,100 Bitcoin (worth more than $230 million at the time) and laundering the stolen funds through mixing services and crypto exchanges.
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They used the stolen cryptocurrency to finance lavish lifestyles, including private security guards, nightclub outings ranging up to $500,000 per evening, international travel, high-end watches, and designer handbags for their girlfriends.
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The criminal group also rented homes in the Hamptons, Los Angeles, and Miami for $40,000 to $80,000 per month, as well as private jets and a fleet of at least 28 cars valued from $100,000 to $3.8 million.
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FETCHED ARTICLE 2
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Source beincrypto.com
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URL https://beincrypto.com/gothferrari-crypto-theft-78-month-sentence/
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Field url_3
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Retrieved 2026-08-06T13:38:14+00:00 via raw HTTP retrieval, deterministic extraction (HTTP 200)
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Language unknown
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Kept paragraphs headline [0] + 5-16 of 28
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Length 2,241 chars
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Integrity sha256 5b073197fba4f9bc31c654f73f2c11e4158a77ed6b7f891383f0ec280b8afd94
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Trimmed trimmed on read-through
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Caveat retrieved from a live page on the date above. Unlike text copied
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from the spreadsheet, there is no second copy to hash it against.
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------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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ORIGINAL (unknown, verbatim as retrieved)
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Crypto Burglar Known as ‘GothFerrari’ Draws 78-Month Prison Term
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A US judge has sentenced a California man known as GothFerrari to 78 months in prison for his role in a crypto social engineering ring that turned to home burglaries when victims could not be deceived online.
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Marlon Ferro, 20, of Santa Ana, also faces $2.5 million in restitution and three years of supervised release.
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Inside the $250 Million Crypto Theft Ring
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A multi-year federal investigation revealed that the enterprise drained more than $250 million in cryptocurrency from victims between late 2023 and early 2025. Its members operated out of California, Connecticut, New York, Florida, and overseas.
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The crew specialized in roles that included database hacking, target identification, fraudulent phone calls, and money laundering. When social engineering failed, the ring sent Ferro to physically steal hardware wallets from victims’ homes.
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“Marlon Ferro served as the criminal enterprise’s instrument of last resort… they turned to Ferro to break into homes and steal hardware wallets outright,” US Attorney Pirro said.
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Brick-Through-Window Crypto Burglaries and Designer Spending
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According to the press release, in February 2024, Ferro broke into a home in Winnsboro, Texas, and stole a hardware wallet. The device held roughly 100 Bitcoin (BTC), then valued at more than $5 million.
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That July, Ferro went to New Mexico and surveilled a residence with a hidden cell phone. He smashed a window with a brick when co-conspirators tracking the victim’s iCloud account signaled the home was empty.
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Beyond burglaries, Ferro laundered funds for the ring. Using fake identification from a foreign national, he opened a geo-blocked payment card account. The setup funneled over $255,000 in designer clothing to co-conspirators.
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Stolen money also bankrolled extravagant spending. Court papers cite nightclub tabs of up to $500,000 per night and Hermès Birkin bags. Private jets and exotic cars valued up to $3.8 million were also part of the haul.
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Authorities arrested Ferro in May 2025 with two firearms in his possession. He pleaded guilty in October 2025 to one count of conspiracy to participate in a racketeering-influenced and corrupt organization
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FETCHED ARTICLE 3
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Source washingtontimes.com
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URL https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2026/may/7/gothferrari-gets-65-years-role-250m-crypto-theft-conspiracy/
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Field url_4
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Retrieved 2026-08-06T13:38:14+00:00 via raw HTTP retrieval, deterministic extraction (HTTP 200)
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Language unknown
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Kept paragraphs headline [0] + 8-17 of 22
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Length 3,414 chars
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Integrity sha256 27dbe7c2ff68d19449d4d71735db95fbe0f9ac528583c0130de529960654b9fa
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Trimmed trimmed on read-through
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Caveat retrieved from a live page on the date above. Unlike text copied
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from the spreadsheet, there is no second copy to hash it against.
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------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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ORIGINAL (unknown, verbatim as retrieved)
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California man gets more than 6 years for role in $250M crypto theft conspiracy
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A 20-year-old California man has been sentenced to 78 months in federal prison for his role in a sprawling social engineering conspiracy that stole well over $250 million in cryptocurrency from victims across the United States, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia announced.
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Marlon Ferro, of Santa Ana, also known as “GothFerrari,” was sentenced in U.S. District Court before Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly, who also ordered three years of supervised release and $2.5 million in restitution. Ferro pleaded guilty Oct. 17, 2025, to one count of conspiracy to participate in a racketeer influenced and corrupt organization.
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Prosecutors said a multi-year investigation uncovered a sprawling criminal enterprise that defrauded victims of more than $250 million in cryptocurrency between late 2023 and early 2025. Members based in California, Connecticut, New York, Florida and abroad filled specialized roles including database hacking, target identification, fraudulent phone calls, money laundering and residential burglary, according to court documents.
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The conspiracy’s operatives typically targeted individuals believed to hold significant cryptocurrency holdings and manipulated victims into surrendering access to their digital wallets. When victims stored funds in hardware wallets — physical devices that cannot be accessed remotely — the enterprise turned to Ferro to steal them outright, prosecutors said.
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In February 2024, Ferro traveled to Winnsboro, Texas, broke into a victim’s home and stole a hardware wallet containing about 100 bitcoin, then valued at more than $5 million, according to court documents. He then laundered the stolen funds through cryptocurrency exchanges.
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In July 2024, Ferro flew to New Mexico, where he surveilled a residence for several days and positioned a cell phone outside the home to monitor the victim’s movements, prosecutors said. When co-conspirators tracking the victim through his iCloud account confirmed he had left, Ferro broke into the home by smashing a window with a brick and searched for the target hardware wallet. He was captured on the home’s surveillance camera.
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Beyond burglary, court documents show Ferro also served as a key money launderer, using fraudulent identification documents obtained from a foreign national to open a digital payment card account on a geo-blocked platform that allowed enterprise members to spend stolen cryptocurrency at retail locations and nightclubs. He purchased more than $255,000 in designer clothing on behalf of co-conspirators using stolen funds.
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After a conspiracy leader was arrested in September 2024, Ferro continued assisting him from the outside — collecting hundreds of thousands of dollars in cryptocurrency, converting it to cash through illicit exchanges and using the proceeds to pay the jailed leader’s attorneys, prosecutors said.
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Ferro was arrested May 13, 2025, and found in possession of two firearms and a fake identification document.
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The investigation was conducted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia, the FBI Washington Field Office and the Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation Washington Field Office. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Christopher Howland and David Liss, with assistance from former Assistant U.S. Attorney Will Hart.
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================================================================================================
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generated from attacks-export-Gart-website.json + reported_K&R | case 449
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================================================================================================
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