Bitcoin Exchange Operator Pleads Guilty to Money Crimes

The former operator of the now-defunct bitcoin exchange Coin.mx has pleaded guilty in federal court.

The move comes after Anthony Murgio had previously plead not guilty to money transmitting charges, first filed last year. The case has been connected by federal prosecutors to the hacking of major US companies, including JPMorgan Chase.

Murgio changed his plea to guilty on three charges, including the operation of an unlicensed money transmission service, Reuters reports. He now faces sentencing in June.

Attorney Brian Klein, who represents Murgio, confirmed the plea.

He told CoinDesk by email:

"By pleading guilty, Anthony Murgio accepts full responsibility for his conduct. Today, he was able to start the process of putting what happened behind him. In connection with his sentencing, we look forward to letting the judge know the many positive things about Anthony."

Coin.mx was a Florida-based exchange that federal prosecutors allege acted as a money conduit for the cybercrime ring behind the JPMorgan hack.

As part of the alleged scheme, Coin.mx effectively gained control of a New Jersey-based credit union, for which an executive of the institution was later charged with bribery.

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