Antivirus mogul John McAfee charged with cheating investors over cryptocurrency
- The cybersecurity entrepreneur and his cohorts allegedly made over US$13 million by fooling investors zealous over the emerging cryptocurrency market
- McAfee was earlier detained in Spain on separate criminal charges filed by the US Justice Department’s tax division
Antivirus software entrepreneur John McAfee was indicted on fraud and money laundering conspiracy charges alleging that he and cohorts made over US$13 million by fooling investors zealous over the emerging cryptocurrency market, authorities said on Friday.
McAfee, 75, was charged in a newly unsealed indictment in Manhattan federal court along with Jimmy Gale Watson junior, who served as an executive adviser on what prosecutors described as McAfee’s “so-called cryptocurrency team”.
Prosecutors said Watson, 40, was arrested Thursday night in Texas and would make an initial appearance Friday before a federal magistrate judge in Dallas. McAfee, authorities said, is detained in Spain on separate criminal charges filed by the US Justice Department’s tax division.
It was not immediately clear who would represent the men.
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“McAfee and Watson exploited a widely used social media platform and enthusiasm among investors in the emerging cryptocurrency market to make millions through lies and deception,” US Attorney Audrey Strauss said in a statement describing crimes in 2017 and 2018.