US Judge Hands Down Maximum Sentence to Fugitive Daren Li for $73M Crypto Scam

A U.S. federal judge has handed down the maximum sentence of 20 years in prison to Daren Li, a dual national of China and St. Kitts and Nevis, for his role in a $73 million cryptocurrency investment fraud.

The sentence was imposed in absentia, as Li had become a fugitive in December 2025 after cutting off his ankle monitor and disappearing.

The case is one of the largest 'pig butchering' prosecutions to reach sentencing in the U.S., involving Cambodia-based scam compounds that targeted American victims through spoofed trading platforms.

Li pleaded guilty in November 2024 to conspiracy to commit money laundering tied to cryptocurrency fraud, admitting that at least $73.6 million in victim funds flowed into accounts he and his associates controlled.