Two individuals, Ruslan Igorevich Tkachuk (37) and Alexander Vladimirovich Ledenev (25), have been charged in connection with a cryptocurrency laundering service known as “AudiA6,” which prosecutors allege processed more than $389 million in illicit transactions.
According to the official release dated June 11, both men, residents of Batumi in Georgia, were arrested and charged with conspiracy to launder monetary instruments and money laundering. They are currently in custody and face potential extradition to the United States.
Global operation disrupts infrastructure across multiple countries
The case was accompanied by a coordinated international enforcement action involving agencies across the United States and multiple partner countries, including Europol, Eurojust, and authorities from Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Japan, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom.
As part of the operation, law enforcement:
- Searched three properties
- Seized servers and domains across the U.S., Iceland, Germany, and France
- Blocked Telegram accounts linked to the network
- Froze cryptocurrency assets tied to the operation
- Took down clear web and dark web platforms associated with AudiA6 and related forums
Several seized websites were replaced with law enforcement banners confirming the action.
The takedown focused not only on suspects but also on the underlying infrastructure used to move and obscure crypto flows. Officials said dismantling domains, servers, and wallets is critical because laundering services often operate as persistent networks, allowing illicit funds to circulate through multiple channels even after individual accounts are disrupted.
Moreover, blockchain investigator ZachXBT linked the case to AudiA6, describing it as a centralized mixing service used by cybercriminals and noting its activity across hundreds of accounts on KuCoin.
Alleged scale: Over 10,000 BTC processed since 2021
According to blockchain analysis cited in the complaint, AudiA6 wallets received approximately 10,333 BTC since the service began in 2021, valued at roughly $389.7 million at the time of transactions.
Investigators say about 393 BTC, worth approximately $19.2 million, was directly traced to known darknet markets, ransomware groups, and other cybercrime-related sources, with additional funds linked indirectly to illicit activity. The service allegedly advertised itself on cybercrime forums, offering to obscure the origin of cryptocurrency for a fee of up to 5% of the transferred amount.
Crypto enforcement expands beyond money laundering
The AudiA6 takedown comes as U.S. authorities increasingly target the infrastructure behind illicit crypto activity. In a separate case, the Department of Justice recently seized 13 domains allegedly linked to Chinese intelligence operatives who used cryptocurrency and online payment accounts to fund a covert recruitment network targeting current and former U.S. government employees.
According to court documents, the operation used fake consulting firms and freelance platforms to recruit individuals with access to sensitive information, while digital assets allegedly served as a payment mechanism that helped obscure the origin of funds. The case highlights how law enforcement is expanding its focus from criminal laundering networks to state-linked operations that use cryptocurrency-based financial channels.
International investigation and prosecution efforts
The investigation was led by the U.S. Secret Service’s Cyber Investigative Section and IRS Criminal Investigation, with support from international partners and cybercrime coordination units.
Prosecutors from the Eastern District of Pennsylvania are handling the case, with assistance from multiple U.S. and international legal agencies. Authorities say extradition proceedings will be pursued. If convicted, the accused could face a maximum sentence of up to 20 years in prison.
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