Ronald Craig Ilg — 56, of Spokane, Washington — has been sentenced to 96 months in federal jail for paying over $60,000 Bitcoin (BTC) to darkish net hitmen.Ilg paid the hitmen who tried to kidnap and assault a number of victims — together with his ex-wife — by means of an internet scheme by which he solicited the help of recognized hitmen.Neonatologist turned criminalBeginning in early 2021, courtroom information discovered that Ilg — who had been working as a neonatologist — transmitted dozens of messages underneath the alias “Scar215” and despatched greater than $60,000 BTC to advance his nefarious plot. Throughout this time, Ilg directed the purported hitmen to assault one other Spokane-area physician — specifying that the sufferer: “Needs to be given a big beating that’s apparent. It ought to injure each palms considerably or break the palms.” This preliminary plan led to Ilg paying greater than $2,000 in BTC, after which he supplied the hitmen with a hyperlink to the sufferer’s image, their handle and different private particulars that may help within the crime, courtroom information present. In a sequence of follow-up messages, Ilg added, “I wish to see proof that it occurred. If this goes effectively, I’ve one other, extra difficult job” for a “completely different goal with totally completely different goals.”U.S. Legal professional for the Jap District of Washington, Vanessa R. Waldref mentioned:“This case demonstrates how violent offenders exploit our on-line world and cryptocurrency to additional their felony agendas.”Bitcoin and the darkish webIt’s definitely not the primary time BTC has been utilized in an try to fund unlawful actions. Late final 12 months, the DOJ issued one other press assertion saying they’d seized a historic $3.36 billion price of cryptocurrency regarding the Silk Highway darkish net portal — belonging to James Zhong. Moreover, Silk Highway’s founder — 38-year-old Ross William Ulbricht — is presently serving a life sentence with out the opportunity of parole for his function in working the hidden service on the Tor community. This included facilitating the sale of narcotics and different unlawful services —together with an alleged plot to rent hitmen utilizing cryptocurrency underneath the alias ‘Dread Pirate Roberts.’
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