NEWARK, N.J. – A businessman and former resident of Utah has been charged with illegally operating an unlicensed income transmitting company, U.S. Lawyer Philip R. Sellinger announced now.
Christopher James Scanlon, 43, initially from Utah and now residing in the United Kingdom, is charged by complaint with 1 count of conspiring to handle and personal an unlicensed income transmitting company. Scanlon was arrested at Miami International Airport now and is anticipated to have his initial look in U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida on Friday.
According to documents filed in this case and statements produced in court:
Scanlon was the president, chief executive officer, and founder of the brands Aurae Way of life and Club Swann. From as early as 2015 by way of 2019, Scanlon controlled a series of legal entities – PMA Media Group Inc. AU Card LLC AU Card Ltd., and Nvayo Ltd., (collectively, the “AU Entities”) – that he operated as a income transmitting company to give fiat and cryptocurrency economic solutions to consumers of Aurae Way of life. Scanlon served as a consumer service representative for various higher-net-worth Aurae Way of life consumers. He typically communicated with consumers about economic transactions employing encrypted messaging applications and directed the AU Entities to conduct economic transactions for consumers by way of U.S.-primarily based banks and cryptocurrency providers. Scanlon operated Aurae Way of life for the duration of this time with out appropriately registering as a income transmitting company with the Economic Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCen), a bureau of the U.S. Treasury Division.
The conspiracy count carries a maximum term of imprisonment of 5 years, a fine of up to $250,000 or twice the pecuniary obtain to the defendant or loss to the victims, whichever is greatest.
U.S. Lawyer Sellinger credited specific agents of IRS – Criminal Investigation, beneath the path of Particular Agent in Charge Tammy Tomlins, and specific agents of the U.S. Attorney’s workplace, beneath the path of Particular Agent in Charge Thomas Mahoney, with the investigation top to the charges.
The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jamie Hoxie Solano and Sophie E. Reiter of the Cybercrime Unit in Newark.
The charge and allegations contained in the complaint are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and till confirmed guilty.
