US Judge Imposes Maximum 20-Year Sentence on Fugitive Crypto Scammer
A federal judge in California has sentenced Daren Li to the maximum of 20 years in prison for his role in a $73 million cryptocurrency investment fraud. The sentence was imposed in absentia, as Li became 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 US, built around 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. He admitted that at least $73.6 million in victim funds flowed into accounts he and his associates controlled, with roughly $59.8 million moving through US shell companies set up to launder proceeds into cryptocurrency.
The maximum sentence is notable on its own, suggesting the court viewed the operation's scale as exceptionally serious. Li remains at large, with the DOJ working with international partners to locate and return him to custody.