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Topic: BBC News: Charlie Shrem admits unlicensed money transfers - page 2. (Read 3121 times)

member
Activity: 97
Merit: 10
I thought that during the time that BitInstant was operating that the federal government had not yet classified bitcoin as currency. I do recall that they introduced that idea at some point, then used that new classification to argue that existing bitcoin exchanges were suddenly illegal.
member
Activity: 140
Merit: 10
It's not confusion. It's pointing out the hypocrisy of the system.

Casino chips aren't money either, but you can still get in big trouble for buying/selling them.
newbie
Activity: 56
Merit: 0
But bitcoin isn't money. How can he plead guilty to running a money exchange, when the IRS has ruled it isn't money. He was only buying and selling a virtual property. Do we need to start arresting people who buy and sell high ticket items like wine or cars?

You're confused. The IRS said it's a property, but their opinion doesn't matter when it comes to regulatory issues. The various departments of the government are under no obligation to treat bitcoin the same.
It's stupid, but that's reality.

It's not confusion. It's pointing out the hypocrisy of the system.
newbie
Activity: 10
Merit: 0
This is just the Banks going after the little guys once again that are trying to bring a change and eventually delivering a fatal blow to the banking system.
Proof that the government is rotten to its core and does what the big corporations tells it to do.
But it's too late , you can't stop it anymore.

 Grin
hero member
Activity: 868
Merit: 1001
https://keybase.io/masterp FREE Escrow Service
Is he arrested for selling bitcoin or because of his link to silkroad?

There are still a lot of btc sellers on localbitcoin. Some have been selling for more than a year and these sellers don't appear to be worry.
Because he not only knows BTCKing are using Bitcoin for laundering money, but also Charlie Shrem supports BTCking to do it and help him to do laundering.


Well they probably went after him just because of the link to Silk Road, but they do occasionally go after Local Bitcoin sellers too. Been a few sting operations on there I believe.
The LBC sellers that have been charged with crimes were told that the bitcoin being purchased was going to be used for illegal activity. The government is saying in Shrem's case that he knew the bitcoin was going to be used on SR.
full member
Activity: 169
Merit: 100

Government is out of control. 5 years jail time for someone who just buy and sell btc.

If they want to go after drug vendors, they should arrest them rather than someone who just facility payment.
legendary
Activity: 2156
Merit: 1393
You lead and I'll watch you walk away.
hero member
Activity: 504
Merit: 500
Charlie is a great guy and always will be. He made a deal with the prosecutors, sometimes you have to bend to not to be broken.

And to avoid spending a fortune in legal fees just to defend himself.  I'm sure the lawyers have already cost him a pretty penny.
hero member
Activity: 859
Merit: 1000
Charlie is a great guy and always will be. He made a deal with the prosecutors, sometimes you have to bend to not to be broken.
newbie
Activity: 37
Merit: 0
Smiley

he always was and will be a racist too... google some of the things he said its interesting hehe.

member
Activity: 96
Merit: 10
That sucks for him. He shouldn't have done that. He lost lot of money now!
full member
Activity: 214
Merit: 100
Is he arrested for selling bitcoin or because of his link to silkroad?

There are still a lot of btc sellers on localbitcoin. Some have been selling for more than a year and these sellers don't appear to be worry.
Because he not only knows BTCKing are using Bitcoin for laundering money, but also Charlie Shrem supports BTCking to do it and help him to do laundering.


Well they probably went after him just because of the link to Silk Road, but they do occasionally go after Local Bitcoin sellers too. Been a few sting operations on there I believe.
newbie
Activity: 50
Merit: 0
But bitcoin isn't money. How can he plead guilty to running a money exchange, when the IRS has ruled it isn't money. He was only buying and selling a virtual property. Do we need to start arresting people who buy and sell high ticket items like wine or cars?

You're confused. The IRS said it's a property, but their opinion doesn't matter when it comes to regulatory issues. The various departments of the government are under no obligation to treat bitcoin the same.
It's stupid, but that's reality.
hero member
Activity: 504
Merit: 500
GTA
member
Activity: 90
Merit: 10
But bitcoin isn't money. How can he plead guilty to running a money exchange, when the IRS has ruled it isn't money. He was only buying and selling a virtual property. Do we need to start arresting people who buy and sell high ticket items like wine or cars?
member
Activity: 235
Merit: 10
I'm sure these prosecutors are really proud of their bust—pressuring yet another harmless kid into a plea deal.
And while they're doing that, countless professional launderers go to work, day in and day out. The only difference is that they have the financial backing and legal counsel from those who specialize in these things.

Most of what the pros do is technically "legal" so there's nothing to prosecute. And when it's not 100% legal, they know how to structure their arrangements to fall within certain grey areas of the law, making a successful prosecution of their practices, a legal nightmare.
Instead of facing any of these fundamental issues, or having the balls to investigate real cases, the prosecutors, as typical, go for the low hanging fruit. Regardless of the fact that what Shrem did, is for all practical purposes, harmless.
sr. member
Activity: 476
Merit: 250
This admission is only a formality. It is not actually alleged that he did this, the allegations are in the original indictment. It was agreed that he would be allowed to admit to a lessor crime in exchange for not forcing the government to bear the expense and uncertainty of going to trial.
hero member
Activity: 868
Merit: 1001
https://keybase.io/masterp FREE Escrow Service
Is he arrested for selling bitcoin or because of his link to silkroad?

There are still a lot of btc sellers on localbitcoin. Some have been selling for more than a year and these sellers don't appear to be worry.
More likely then not, yes. Although this is not the official stance of the government. He was officially charged and arrested for violating AML rules/laws.

I personally think the government is essentially trying to spread FUD about participating in the sale (and purchase) of drugs on darknet/deepweb sites. I also find it ironic that many more of these kinds of sites have popped up almost right after SR was taken down and media reports have said that overall business is way up since SR was taken down.
sr. member
Activity: 484
Merit: 250
HubrisOne
Is he arrested for selling bitcoin or because of his link to silkroad?

There are still a lot of btc sellers on localbitcoin. Some have been selling for more than a year and these sellers don't appear to be worry.
Because he not only knows BTCKing are using Bitcoin for laundering money, but also Charlie Shrem supports BTCking to do it and help him to do laundering.
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