The case of Meloun Lem, who committed the theft of over 4100 BTC alongside an accomplice, has taken a new turn. Authorities discovered that even while in prison, he continued to control an entire criminal organization.
This is reported by Finway
The US Department of Justice has charged an additional 12 individuals in connection with Lem’s case. The total damage caused by the criminals has exceeded $263 million.
The Theft of Crypto Assets and Criminal Methods
According to the Department of Justice, the criminal group associated with Meloun Lem committed a serious offense that occurred on August 18, 2024. Using social engineering techniques, Lem and his accomplice Jandiel Serrano tricked a client of the Genesis platform into giving up over 4100 BTC (which at the time was worth about $230 million).
The criminals posed as Google support agents, which allowed them to gain access to the victim’s personal data — keys, logins, and passwords — after which they withdrew all crypto assets. It is noted that one of them even streamed the crime.
Assistance in apprehending the criminals was provided by a crypto detective using the pseudonym ZachXBT, who noticed anomalous activities on one of the crypto exchanges. He contacted the victim, who hired him to investigate the incident.
The Criminal Organization and Their Lifestyle
The US Department of Justice charged Lem in September 2024, with the trial scheduled for October 6, 2025. According to reports, this criminal group emerged in the fall of 2023, with its members meeting on online gaming platforms. Each of them played a specific role: some hacked systems, others contacted victims to carry out thefts, and others laundered the stolen funds through mixers.
The group operated both within the United States and abroad. The expenses for the lavish lifestyle of its members, including club parties, reached $500,000. Lem, while in prison, continued to oversee criminal activities.
The group members owned 28 exotic cars, rented luxury homes in Miami and Los Angeles, and used private jets for travel. According to the agency, several individuals involved in the case have been apprehended, but at least two of them are believed to be abroad, in Dubai.
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