Investing

Terraform Labs Co-Founder Do Kwon Pleads Guilty, Faces Up to 25 Years in Prison

Pinterest LinkedIn Tumblr

The post Terraform Labs Co-Founder Do Kwon Pleads Guilty, Faces Up to 25 Years in Prison appeared first on Coinpedia Fintech News

Terraform Labs co-founder Do Kwon has admitted in court that he knowingly participated in a scheme to defraud cryptocurrency investors, reversing his previous denials after the collapse of the Terra ecosystem.

From Mocking Victims to Admitting Guilt

For months after the crash that wiped out billions, Kwon used Twitter to mock victims, post jokes, and flaunt his wealth. 

But in court, his tone changed. “I knowingly agreed with others in a scheme to defraud and did defraud investors,” he told the judge.

The guilty plea came after U.S. District Judge Paul Engelmayer, in a brief scheduling order, said he had been advised that Kwon might change his plea and set a hearing for Tuesday at 10:30 a.m. EDT (1430 GMT) in Manhattan federal court.

Plea Deal and Sentencing

Kwon confirmed that he signed a plea agreement, which includes more than $19 million in financial penalties and a stipulated sentencing guideline of 25 years. Under the deal, he cannot appeal any sentence of 25 years or less. If he accepts responsibility and avoids new crimes before sentencing, prosecutors will recommend no more than 12 years in prison.

.article-inside-link {
margin-left: 0 !important;
border: 1px solid #0052CC4D;
border-left: 0;
border-right: 0;
padding: 10px 0;
text-align: left;
}

.entry ul.article-inside-link li {
font-size: 14px;
line-height: 21px;
font-weight: 600;
list-style-type: none;
margin-bottom: 0;
display: inline-block;
}

.entry ul.article-inside-link li:last-child {
display: none;
}

He also agreed not to contest the indictment’s factual allegations and to forfeit assets linked to the case. The fraud, he admitted, took place between 2018 and 2022 in the Southern District of New York, targeting buyers of Terraform Labs’ cryptocurrencies, including some in New York.

When asked by the judge if he knew his actions were illegal, Kwon said that while he didn’t fully understand international statutes, he knew it was wrong. Sentencing is scheduled for December 11 at 11 a.m.

.article_register_shortcode {
padding: 18px 24px;
border-radius: 8px;
display: flex;
align-items: center;
margin: 6px 0 22px;
border: 1px solid #0052CC4D;
background: linear-gradient(90deg, rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.1) 0%, rgba(0, 82, 204, 0.1) 100%);
}

.article_register_shortcode .media-body h5 {
color: #000000;
font-weight: 600;
font-size: 20px;
line-height: 22px;
text-align:left;
}

.article_register_shortcode .media-body h5 span {
color: #0052CC;
}

.article_register_shortcode .media-body p {
font-weight: 400;
font-size: 14px;
line-height: 22px;
color: #171717B2;
margin-top: 4px;
text-align:left;
}
.article_register_shortcode .media-body{
padding-right: 14px;
}

.article_register_shortcode .media-button a {
float: right;
}
.article_register_shortcode .primary-button img{
vertical-align: middle;
width: 20px;
margin: 0;
display: inline-block;
}

@media (min-width: 581px) and (max-width: 991px) {
.article_register_shortcode .media-body p {
margin-bottom: 0;
}
}

@media (max-width: 580px) {
.article_register_shortcode {
display: block;
padding: 20px;
}

.article_register_shortcode img {
max-width: 50px;
}

.article_register_shortcode .media-body h5 {
font-size: 16px;
}

.article_register_shortcode .media-body {
margin-left: 0px;
}

.article_register_shortcode .media-body p {
font-size: 13px;
line-height: 20px;
margin-top: 6px;
margin-bottom: 14px;
}

.article_register_shortcode .media-button a {
float: unset;
}

.article_register_shortcode .secondary-button {
margin-bottom: 0;
}
}

Never Miss a Beat in the Crypto World!

Stay ahead with breaking news, expert analysis, and real-time updates on the latest trends in Bitcoin, altcoins, DeFi, NFTs, and more.

.subscription-options li {
display: none;
}
.research-report-subscribe{
background-color: #0052CC;
padding: 12px 20px;
border-radius: 8px;
color: #fff;
font-weight: 500;
font-size: 14px;
width: 96%;
}
.research-report-subscribe img{
vertical-align: sub;
margin-right: 2px;
}

var templateIds = “6”;
var listOfSubscribed = [];

function subscribed_popupmodal(template_id) {
var templateId = ‘6’;
getAllSubscriberCategoryList([templateId]);
var subcribemodal = window.parent.document.getElementById(‘subscribe-modal-design’);
if (subcribemodal) {
var modalContent = `

`;
subcribemodal.innerHTML = modalContent;
}
subscribe_unsubscribe_status(template_id);
//getAllSubscriberCategoryList(template_id);
}

function toggleSubscription(subscription, template_id) {
var subscriptionCheckbox = document.getElementById(subscription + ‘_’ + template_id);
var li = document.getElementById(subscription + ‘Selected_’ + template_id);
if (subscriptionCheckbox.checked) {
li.classList.add(‘active’);
} else {
li.classList.remove(‘active’);
}
}

function getAllSubscriberCategoryList(getcategoryId) {

jQuery.ajax({
url: ‘https://coinpedia.org/wp-admin/admin-ajax.php’,
type: ‘GET’,
data: {
action: ‘subscribe_api_ajax_request’,
apiurl: ‘/app/email_newsletter/list’,
},
success: function(response) {
var result = JSON.parse(response.message);

if (result.status === true) {

var idstosubscribed = []
// Populate listOfSubscribed with subscribed category IDs
result.message.forEach(listofcategory => {

if (listofcategory.subscribe_status === 1) {
if (!listOfSubscribed.includes(listofcategory._id)) {

listOfSubscribed.push(listofcategory._id);
}

if (!idstosubscribed.includes(listofcategory.news_cp_category_row_id)) {
idstosubscribed.push(listofcategory.news_cp_category_row_id);
}
}
});

idstosubscribed.forEach(id => {
var subscribeButton = document.getElementById(‘subscribe_’ + id);
var unsubscribeButton = document.getElementById(‘unsubscribe_’ + id);

if (subscribeButton && unsubscribeButton) {
subscribeButton.style.display = ‘none’;
unsubscribeButton.style.display = ‘block’;
var showDownloadReport = document.getElementById(‘download_report’);

if (showDownloadReport) {
showDownloadReport.style.display = ‘block’;
}
}
});
}

},
error: function(xhr, status, error) {
console.error(‘Error:’, error);
}
});
}

function subscribe_unsubscribe_status(getcategoryId) {
var elementTounsubscribe = parent.document.getElementById(‘unsubscribe_’ + getcategoryId);
var elementTosubscribe = parent.document.getElementById(‘subscribe_’ + getcategoryId);
jQuery.ajax({
url: ‘https://coinpedia.org/wp-admin/admin-ajax.php’,
type: ‘POST’,
data: {
action: ‘subscribe_api_ajax_request’,
apiurl: ‘/app/email_newsletter/list?category_row_id=’ + getcategoryId,
},
success: function(response) {
var result = JSON.parse(response.message);
if (result.status === true) {
parent.jQuery(‘.skeliton-loader-block’).hide();
var hasSubscribeStatusOne = false;
result.message.forEach(subscribeStatus => {
if (listOfSubscribed.includes(subscribeStatus._id) && subscribeStatus.subscribe_status === 1) {
hasSubscribeStatusOne = true;
}
if (subscribeStatus.notification_type === 3) {
parent.document.getElementById(‘monthlySelected_’ + getcategoryId).style.display = ‘block’;
parent.document.getElementById(‘monthly_’ + getcategoryId).setAttribute(‘data-id’, subscribeStatus._id);
if (subscribeStatus.subscribe_status === 1) {
parent.document.getElementById(‘monthly_’ + getcategoryId).checked = true;
}
} else if (subscribeStatus.notification_type === 2) {
parent.document.getElementById(‘weeklySelected_’ + getcategoryId).style.display = ‘block’;
parent.document.getElementById(‘weekly_’ + getcategoryId).setAttribute(‘data-id’, subscribeStatus._id);
if (subscribeStatus.subscribe_status === 1) {
parent.document.getElementById(‘weekly_’ + getcategoryId).checked = true;
}
} else if (subscribeStatus.notification_type === 1) {
parent.document.getElementById(‘dailySelected_’ + getcategoryId).style.display = ‘block’;
parent.document.getElementById(‘daily_’ + getcategoryId).setAttribute(‘data-id’, subscribeStatus._id);
if (subscribeStatus.subscribe_status === 1) {
parent.document.getElementById(‘daily_’ + getcategoryId).checked = true;
}
}
if (subscribeStatus.subscribe_status === 1) {
listOfSubscribed.push(subscribeStatus._id);
}
});
if (hasSubscribeStatusOne) {
elementTosubscribe.style.display = ‘none’;
elementTounsubscribe.style.display = ‘block’;
} else {
elementTosubscribe.style.display = ‘block’;
elementTounsubscribe.style.display = ‘none’;
}
}
},
error: function(xhr, status, error) {
console.error(‘Error:’, error);
}
});
}

function logSelectedSubscriptions(categoryid) {
var unsubscribemodal = document.querySelector(‘.unsubscribed-popup-modal .modal’);
var subscribedmodal = document.querySelector(‘.subscribed-popup-modal .modal’);
unsubscribemodal.innerHTML=”;
subscribedmodal.innerHTML=”;
var selectedSubscriptions = [];
var storeCheckedId = [];
var checkboxes = document.querySelectorAll(‘#subscription-options-‘ + categoryid + ‘ input[type=”checkbox”]’);
var errorMessage = document.getElementById(‘error-message-select’);

// Use a Set to handle unique data-ids
var uniqueSubscribedIds = new Set(listOfSubscribed);

checkboxes.forEach(function(checkbox) {
var dataId = parseInt(checkbox.getAttribute(‘data-id’));
if (checkbox.checked) {

selectedSubscriptions.push(checkbox.id);
storeCheckedId.push(dataId);
} else {

uniqueSubscribedIds.delete(dataId); // Remove unchecked data-id
}
});

// Update listOfSubscribed with unique values
listOfSubscribed = Array.from(uniqueSubscribedIds);

var selectedSubscriptionsString = selectedSubscriptions.join(‘, ‘);
var concatinateSubscribeId = […new Set(storeCheckedId.concat(listOfSubscribed))];

var categoryData = {
‘subscribed_categories’: concatinateSubscribeId
};

var requestSubscriberData = {
action: ‘handle_dynamic_api_request_with_headers’,
security: ‘cf13b1ee7e’,

endpoint: ‘/app/email_newsletter/update_categories’,
token: ”,
data: categoryData
};

jQuery.ajax({
url: ‘https://coinpedia.org/wp-admin/admin-ajax.php’,
type: ‘POST’,
data: requestSubscriberData,
beforeSend: function(xhr) {
xhr.setRequestHeader(‘X-Requested-With’, ‘XMLHttpRequest’);
},
success: function(response) {
try {
response = response.data;

if (storeCheckedId.length === 0) {
var unsubcribedPopUpmodal =

`

`;
unsubscribemodal.innerHTML = unsubcribedPopUpmodal;
document.querySelector(‘#subscribe-modal-design .modal’).style.display = ‘none’;
unsubscribemodal.style.display = ‘block’;
unsubscribemodal.classList.remove(‘hide’);
unsubscribemodal.classList.add(‘show’);
document.getElementById(‘subscribe_’ + categoryid).style.display = ‘block’;
document.getElementById(‘unsubscribe_’ + categoryid).style.display = ‘none’;
var showDownloadReport = document.getElementById(‘download_report’);
if (showDownloadReport) {
showDownloadReport.style.display = ‘none’;
}

} else {

var subscribedPopupModal =

`

FAQs

What did Do Kwon plead guilty to?

He admitted to defrauding cryptocurrency investors in connection with the Terra ecosystem collapse.

What penalties does Do Kwon face?

He faces over $19M in fines and up to 25 years in prison under his plea agreement.

How long could Do Kwon actually serve?

Prosecutors may recommend no more than 12 years if he accepts responsibility and avoids new crimes.