Charged

The U.S. Department of Justice on Tuesday charged the founder of a Chicago-based crypto ATM company with taking in at least $10 million in criminal proceeds, and moving the money into digital wallets to conceal its origins.

The indictment, unsealed in the Northern District of Illinois, accused Firas Isa of running the operation through Virtual Assets LLC, a company that did business as Crypto Dispensers and operated cash-to-cryptocurrency ATMs across the United States.

According to the filing, victims and criminals sent the funds to Isa, his company, or a co-conspirator. While Bitcoin ATMs are supposed to institute know-your-customer (KYC) policies to curb money laundering through the machines, prosecutors said Isa converted the illicit funds the Crypto Dispensers ATMs received into cryptocurrency before transferring it to other wallets.

“The indictment alleges that Isa knew the money was derived from fraud,” the DOJ wrote.

The DOJ did not say in the indictment which cryptocurrencies or wallet providers were allegedly used by Isa in the scheme. Isa did not immediately respond to a request for comment by Decrypt.

Isa and Virtual Assets LLC were each charged with one count of money-laundering conspiracy, a charge that carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in federal prison. Both entered not-guilty pleas. A status hearing was set for January 30, 2026, before U.S. District Judge Elaine Bucklo.

The charge arrived at a time when federal prosecutors are adjusting how they police the crypto market. In April, the Justice Department said it would dissolve its National Cryptocurrency Enforcement Team and stop bringing criminal cases against exchanges, mixing services, or cold-wallet holders for the actions of their users. Last week, the DOJ, FBI, and U.S. Secret Service announced a new Scam Center Strike Force aimed at combating crypto scams that originated in China.

Prosecutors noted that the indictment against Isa and Virtual Assets is an allegation, and they are presumed innocent unless the government proves guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.

If Isa or Virtual Assets LLC were convicted, they would be required to forfeit any property involved in the alleged money-laundering offense, including a personal money judgment, and the government could seek substitute assets if the original property could not be recovered.