Firas Isa Charged in $10 Million Crypto Laundering Conspiracy

Firas Isa, founder of Virtual Assets LLC and operator of Crypto Dispensers in Chicago, has been charged with money laundering conspiracy by U.S. federal prosecutors.
The charges involve at least $10 million from wire fraud and drug trafficking activities between August 2018 and May 2025.
Isa's company operated cash-to-cryptocurrency exchanges, including Bitcoin ATMs across the U.S., allegedly converting illicit proceeds into cryptocurrency to conceal their origins.
If convicted, Isa faces up to 20 years in prison; he pleaded not guilty and was released on a $250,000 bond, with a court date set for January 30, 2026.
Illinois introduced legislation in August 2024, requiring crypto ATM operators to register due to concerns over fraud and money laundering.
This follows the case of Sonny Meraban, founder of Bitcoin of America, who previously faced related charges and saw his company close in 2023.
Similar legal issues arose internationally, such as Binance founder Changpeng Zhao receiving a pardon after serving time for Bank Secrecy Act violations, although he never admitted to money laundering.