Fugitive behind $73M 'pig butchering' scheme gets 20 years in prison

The report details the prosecution of Daren Li for his role in a large international "pig butchering" cryptocurrency investment scam that laundered more than $73 million through shell companies, banks (including transfers to Deltec Bank), and crypto platforms; Li pleaded guilty in 2024, was sentenced in absentia to 20 years in prison (and three years supervised release), and later fled after cutting off an ankle monitor. Court filings revealed an organized laundering network, linked wallets containing hundreds of millions in crypto, multiple co-conspirators who pleaded guilty, and contextual statistics showing rising losses from investment scams.