{
  "id": 9780136,
  "title": "Justice Department Seizes $84 Million From Payments Firm Capstone",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/25/justice-department-seizes-84-million-from-payments-firm-capstone",
  "topic": "finance",
  "section": "Finance & Markets",
  "published": "2026-09-25T14:41:01.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "PYMNTS",
    "slug": "pymnts",
    "url": "https://www.pymnts.com/legal/2026/justice-department-seizes-84-million-from-payments-firm-capstone/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "The Justice Department seized $84 million from the bank accounts of Montana-based payments firm Capstone. The company was accused of being unlicensed, misrepresenting its business to U.S. banks, and potentially facilitating payments for two unnamed cryptocurrency firms. The Financial Times reported that the two firms are stablecoin issuer Tether and its affiliated exchange Bitfinex. Capstone allegedly moved money on behalf of Dominica-based bank EQIBank, according to a civil justice complaint filed in California. The DOJ froze $84 million in Capstone's accounts at two banks, and the FBI executed a search warrant at Capstone owners Kotaro Shimogori and Mary Jeanne Thompson's home in Sacramento, California. Tether and Bitfinex denied knowledge of Capstone's alleged fraudulent conduct and stated their assets held at EQI are limited. Capstone denies the allegations and plans to challenge the government's civil asset forfeiture complaint. EQIBank did not comment on the matter. The DOJ's complaint also alleges that Capstone helped scammers convert stolen cash into stablecoins, which is a felony in at least six U.S. states.",
  "summary": "The Justice Department seized bank accounts of Montana-based payments business Capstone, alleging that the company was unlicensed, misrepresented its business to U.S. banks and may have made payments on behalf of two unnamed cryptocurrency firms, the Financial Times reported Friday (Sept. 25). The FT reported, citing unnamed sources, that the two firms are stablecoin issuer […] The post Justice…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "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."
}