(Bloomberg) — The U.S. lost its bid to extradite a British man over allegations he helped hijack an American citizen’s identity to steal $8.5 million in crypto assets while he was a teenager.
Corey De Rose’s extradition would be “unjust and, or, oppressive” and “disproportionate in relation to the human rights act,” a London judge ruled on Monday. De Rose’s lawyers had argued against his extradition on mental health grounds.
Rose, 22-years-old, is accused of helping hack into a U.S. citizen’s crypto wallet and transferring the digital currency to him and his alleged co-conspirators in 2017. He received 108.18 Bitcoins, valued at around $300,000 at the time, lawyers for the U.S. said during last year’s trial.
They alleged he was part of a wider team of hackers called “The Community” which is said to have hijacked U.S. identities to steal over $50 million in cryptocurrencies between 2017 and 2018. The U.S. hasn’t yet said if it will appeal the ruling.
Read More: U.S. Pursues Young Briton Over $8.5 Million Bitcoin Plunder (1)
The U.K.’s Crown Prosecution Service and De Rose’s lawyer didn’t immediately respond to requests for comment.
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