{
  "id": 6388792,
  "title": "Singaporean man pleads guilty in US to massive crypto heist",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/09/singaporean-man-pleads-guilty-in-us-to-massive-crypto-heist-6388792",
  "topic": "finance",
  "section": "Finance & Markets",
  "published": "2026-09-09T04:36:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "MyJoyOnline Ghana",
    "slug": "myjoyonline-ghana",
    "url": "https://www.myjoyonline.com/singaporean-man-pleads-guilty-in-us-to-massive-crypto-heist/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "A Singaporean man, Malone Lam, pleaded guilty to a racketeering conspiracy charge in the US for orchestrating one of the largest cryptocurrency thefts in history, according to the US Department of Justice (DOJ). The 22-year-old admitted to collaborating with friends to steal $245m (£181m) of bitcoin and launder the proceeds. The DOJ stated that Lam and his associates spent up to $500,000 on nightclub visits, luxury cars, Hermes Birkin handbags, high-end watches, rental properties, and private jet rentals. US District Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly has not yet set a sentencing hearing for Lam, who faces a maximum prison sentence of 20 years. US Attorney Jeanine Pirro emphasized that those who build cybercrime empires will be found, dismantled, and held accountable.",
  "summary": "A Singaporean man pleaded guilty on Tuesday to a racketeering conspiracy charge in the US for organising one of the biggest ever cryptocurrency thefts.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 3,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Malay Mail",
        "title": "Singaporean at centre of US$260m crypto theft ring pleads guilty in US court",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/09/singaporean-at-centre-of-us-260m-crypto-theft-ring-pleads-guilty-in",
        "published": "2026-09-09T03:53:41.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "KahawaTungu",
        "title": "Singaporean man pleads guilty in US to massive crypto heist",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/09/singaporean-man-pleads-guilty-in-us-to-massive-crypto-heist-6402674",
        "published": "2026-09-09T09:32:30.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}