Riccardo Spagni, who left Monero in 2019, is for the time being in US custody anticipating capacity extradition to South Africa
US authorities have confidence detained Riccardo Spagni, a outmoded lead developer of Monero (XMR), on charges confirmed to be unrelated to his role on the privateness-focused coin.
In response to the paperwork on the United States District Court docket for the Middle District of Tennessee, the ex-Monero maintainer turn into as soon as apprehended on the request of of the South African authorities, which needs Spagni extradited to acknowledge to charges linked to fraud dedicated between 2009 and 2011.
The US District Court docket issued the warrant on 20 July 2021, with US Marshals intercepting Spagni on the identical day while on a private jet to Los Cabos, Mexico.
The allegations against Spagni
In response to the courtroom paperwork, Spagni worked for Cape Cookies as an IT Manager, a draw he allegedly feeble to fraudulently receives a payment 1,453,561.47 Rand (roughly $101,000). The fraud charges order to forged invoices, Price Added Tax (VAT) numbers and checking yarn diminutive print.
“SPAGNI turn into as soon as charged in the Western Cape Regional Court docket, Cape Metropolis for fraud and totally different charges coming up out of these details,” the doc reads. “He pleaded not guilty to the costs, and the trial against him turn into as soon as commenced. Proof turn into as soon as presented against him, but SPAGNI failed to seem in courtroom.”
The Cape Cookies ex-employee has allegedly been on South Africa’s wanted list since 19 April 2021 when the Justice of the Peace Court docket of the District of Cape Metropolis issued a warrant for his arrest. With a proper request of from South Africa in express, the US Attorney General’s place of job is alleged to have confidence sought an arrest warrant.
He is now in custody in the US, as he awaits the resolution of extradition lawsuits. The courts were knowledgeable to reveal bail, with Spagni described as a capacity flight risk.
If he’s extradited to South Africa, a conviction would impress him face a detention center sentence of as a lot as 20 years.
