U.S. Authorities Issue Erroneous Deportation Order for Estonian HashFlare Scam Defendants Prior to Sentencing

In a surprising administrative error, U.S. federal officials have mistakenly directed Estonian nationals involved in the HashFlare cryptocurrency mining fraud case to voluntarily depart the country before their scheduled sentencing hearings. The defendants, facing serious charges related to their alleged operation of a $575 million cloud mining Ponzi scheme, were unexpectedly served with deportation notices despite pending criminal proceedings. Legal experts suggest this procedural misstep could complicate the Justice Department’s case against the individuals accused of defrauding hundreds of thousands of investors through the now-defunct HashFlare platform. The error comes at a critical juncture as prosecutors prepare to seek substantial prison terms for what they characterize as one of the most sophisticated crypto fraud schemes in recent years.