New Zealand Woman Faces Murder Charges After Fabricating $160K Crypto Windfall to Her Mother

When crypto fantasies turn fatal: A Kiwi woman's alleged deception spirals into unthinkable violence.

From moon math to murder

What began as a get-rich-quick lie about $160,000 in cryptocurrency profits escalated into a capital crime, according to New Zealand authorities. The accused reportedly fabricated entire trading statements to maintain the illusion of crypto success—proving once again that imaginary gains can have very real consequences.

The dark side of 'trustless' systems

While blockchain verifies transactions, it can't verify human intentions. This case exposes how the same speculative frenzy that creates overnight millionaires can also fuel desperate acts. (And let's be honest—if you're faking crypto returns to family, you're already bankrupt.)

When lambo dreams become nightmare fuel

The investigation continues as forensic accountants trace the digital paper trail. One thing's certain: this isn't the volatility warning most crypto newbies expect.

Elaborate Deception Preceded Alleged Murder

Court testimony revealed DeLuney’s systematic theft from her mother over several months before the alleged murder.

Gregory had confided in friends that two large sums totaling up to $85,000 had gone missing from her home, with her daughter later admitting to investing the money in cryptocurrency.

Forensic accountant Eric Huang detailed DeLuney’s financial transactions, showing $156,555 transferred to crypto platforms against only $88,173 in withdrawals.

The former school teacher received $74,850 in cash deposits and $45,000 in bank transfers from Gregory across seven months when she lacked sufficient funds to support her spending.

On June 25, 2023, DeLuney made eight cash deposits totaling $29,800 at smart ATMs, with $20,000 deposited in four transactions within minutes.

The pattern raised red flags about the source of the funds and her trading activities.

Gregory deposited $6,000 cash into DeLuney’s account on January 23 and withdrew $9,000 from her retirement fund after receiving the fabricated profit email.

Instead of crypto investments, DeLuney used the money for credit card debt, Lotto tickets, and utility payments, with only $1,200 actually invested in cryptocurrency.

Family friend Cheryl Thomson testified that Gregory was upset about the unauthorized investments, recalling DeLuney’s reassurance: “It’s all SAFE mum, don’t worry.”

Another friend, Elizabeth Askin, estimated the amount DeLuney had taken for crypto investments at approximately $75,000-$76,000.

Regulatory Response to Growing Crypto Crime

The case emerges as New Zealand implements sweeping financial crime reforms, including a nationwide ban on cryptocurrency ATMs and stricter cash transfer limits.

The measures target growing criminal exploitation of digital finance tools, with police identifying crypto ATMs as primary channels for drug money laundering.

New Zealand has unveiled a set of reforms, including a nationwide ban on cryptocurrency ATMs and a $5,000 cap on international cash transfers.#ATMs #Cryptohttps://t.co/LrL9HTJVOq

Associate Justice Minister Nicole McKee announced the measures as part of an overhaul to the country’s Anti-Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism regime.

The nationwide crypto ATM ban targets the 157 machines that police identified as facilitating untraceable transactions for drug money laundering.

A new $5,000 cap on international cash transfers aims to close another popular loophole exploited by criminal groups moving money offshore.

The Financial Markets Authority has also issued multiple warnings about crypto scams targeting social media users.

In December 2024, the watchdog flagged over 40 suspicious trading platforms operating through YouTube channels and messaging platforms like WhatsApp and Telegram.

Scammers follow calculated strategies, initially requesting small deposits to build trust before presenting fake profit statements to encourage larger investments.

When victims attempt withdrawals, they face demands for additional fees with no money ever returned.

Notably, the DeLuney incident follows similar incidents across the Asia-Pacific region.

South Korean police investigated a suspected crypto-linked murder at a Jeju hotel in February 2025, where four Chinese nationals allegedly stabbed a man to death during a crypto exchange transaction, stealing $59,318 in cash.

The global pattern of crypto-related violence and financial crimes has prompted coordinated regulatory responses, with multiple countries, like Australia, implementing stricter oversight of crypto ATMs and digital asset transactions to prevent criminal exploitation of the booming ecosystem.