The announcement states:
Investigators traced tens of millions of dollars from illicit markets to Helix, with Harmon retaining commissions as operating fees. The investigation was conducted by the IRS Criminal Investigation Cyber Crimes Unit and the FBI Washington Field Office, with assistance from international partners, the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network, and multiple Justice Department offices. Harmon pleaded guilty in August 2021 to conspiracy to commit money laundering and was later sentenced to 36 months in prison, supervised release, and forfeiture penalties, highlighting continued enforcement pressure on illicit crypto-related services.
FAQ ⏰ What assets did the U.S. government seize from Helix? The forfeiture included more than $400 million in cryptocurrencies, real estate, and monetary assets tied to Helix. How much cryptocurrency did Helix process? Helix processed about 354,468 bitcoin worth over $300 million between 2014 and 2017. Who operated the Helix mixing service? Helix was operated by Larry Dean Harmon, who later pleaded guilty to money laundering conspiracy. Which agencies led the Helix investigation? The probe was led by IRS Criminal Investigation and the FBI with support from FinCEN and international partners.
