Federal authorities have initiated a civil forfeiture action to recover 327,829.720952 USDT (Tether), a cryptocurrency valued at about $327,829, that is alleged to be linked to a money laundering operation connected with an online romance fraud scheme targeting a Massachusetts resident.
According to court documents, the case began in fall 2024 when a Massachusetts resident was contacted through an online dating application by someone using the name “Linda Brown.” After several weeks of communication, Brown introduced what was described as a cryptocurrency investment opportunity. The victim was convinced to send funds for this purported investment. However, when the victim tried to withdraw their money, they discovered it was a scam.
The complaint states that the funds were routed through multiple intermediary wallets and converted from various cryptocurrencies into USDT. These actions are said to be typical tactics used by money launderers to obscure the origin and movement of illicit funds.
Authorities traced some of the victim’s assets to several unhosted cryptocurrency wallets, which were seized in August 2025. The complaint asserts that all cryptocurrency associated with these wallets constitutes property involved in money laundering.
Federal law prohibits conducting financial transactions intended to hide the nature or control of criminal proceeds. Civil forfeiture allows third parties who claim an interest in seized property to present their claims before assets can be permanently taken by the government and returned to victims.
“This is one of several civil forfeiture actions the U.S. Attorney’s Office has filed seeking to forfeit cryptocurrency traced to fraud schemes targeting Massachusetts victims,” officials stated.
United States Attorney Leah B. Foley and Ted E. Docks, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Boston Division, announced the action. Assistant U.S. Attorney Annapurna Balakrishna from the Asset Recovery Unit is prosecuting the case.
Members of the public who believe they are victims of cybercrime—including scams involving cryptocurrency or online relationships—are encouraged to contact USAMA.CyberTip@usdoj.gov.
Officials clarified: “The accusations in the complaint, and the description of the complaint, constitute allegations that certain property is subject to forfeiture. The United States must prove, by a standard of preponderance of the evidence, that the property is subject to forfeiture.”
