DOJ’s $225M Crypto Seizure Highlights Human Toll of Pig Butchering Scams
The U.S. Department of Justice's move to seize $225 million in cryptocurrency linked to pig butchering scams underscores the human devastation behind these crimes. Phil Selden, former acting U.S. Attorney for Maryland, frames the forfeiture as a deliberate signal—victims' stolen funds won't languish while perpetrators evade arrest.
This case marks a strategic shift under Matthew Galeotti, the DOJ Criminal Division's new head. His organized crime expertise informs an aggressive approach: tracking money flows, exploiting regulatory gaps, and prioritizing restitution for devastated families and communities like Heartland Tri-State Bank.