Louisiana – A federal judge in Louisiana has ordered the forfeiture of more than $200,000 in cryptocurrency that investigators say was tied to a multi-state scam targeting elderly victims.

U.S. Attorney Kurt L. Wall announced that U.S. District Judge Brian A. Jackson signed a Final Order of Forfeiture on December 15, 2025, in a civil forfeiture case involving bitcoin and Tether (USDT), a popular type of stablecoin. The order clears the way for the U.S. Department of Justice to begin the process of returning the funds to multiple victims.

Over $200,000 In Cryptocurrency Forfeited

According to federal authorities, the court formally forfeited:

• 1.96356404 bitcoin (BTC)
• 60,139.5734 Tether (USDT)

Prosecutors said the digital currency was involved in wire fraud and money laundering offenses. The cryptocurrency was seized from a wallet address in the name of an Indian national, held at a digital currency exchange located in Seychelles, Africa.

Officials estimated the combined value of the seized bitcoin and Tether at more than $200,000.

Elderly Victims Targeted In “Cryptocurrency Emergency” Scam

Investigators said at least four elderly people were targeted in what authorities described as a cryptocurrency emergency scam. All four victims were over the age of 70. Two lived in Louisiana, one in Texas, and one in Minnesota.

In this type of scam, subjects impersonate bank employees or government officials and pressure victims to take immediate action. The scammers create a false emergency, such as claims that a victim’s bank account has been hacked or is tied to illegal activity, then insist the victim move money into a “secure” account.

Authorities reported that:

• Victims were instructed to withdraw large amounts of cash from their bank accounts.
• They were then told to deposit that cash into bitcoin ATMs.
• Finally, they were directed to send the purchased cryptocurrency to wallet addresses controlled by the scammers.

Specific Cases Described By Investigators

In one case, a victim believed she was speaking to her bank’s fraud department. She was falsely told that her bank account had been hacked and that there were “child pornography charges on her account.” The caller said she would be arrested unless she followed instructions.

The subject allegedly told her to:

• Withdraw $31,000 from her bank account.
• Deposit the cash into a Bitcoin Depot ATM.
• Transfer the resulting cryptocurrency to a “secure” account controlled by the scammer.

In another case, a victim received a message on her laptop claiming that her device had been hacked. The message warned that, to stop an upcoming automatic payment to a child pornography website, she had to contact what she believed was her bank’s fraud department.

After contacting the number provided, she was told to:

• Withdraw $30,000 from her bank account.
• Deposit the money into a Bitcoin ATM in two equal deposits of $15,000.
• Send the cryptocurrency to a wallet address given by the supposed bank representative.

In each case, authorities said the victims were manipulated into believing their money and freedom were at immediate risk, which pushed them to act quickly.

How Cryptocurrency Emergency Scams Work

Federal officials described a cryptocurrency emergency scam as a scheme in which subjects:

• Pose as bank representatives or government officials.
• Use high-pressure tactics and fake crises, such as claims that accounts have been hacked or are linked to criminal activity.
• Direct victims to withdraw cash from their bank accounts.
• Instruct them to buy cryptocurrency at an ATM.
• Tell victims to send that cryptocurrency to a supposedly safe or secure digital wallet.

These scams often focus on older adults, using fear, urgency, and confusion to convince victims that their money is in danger of being stolen or frozen. Once cryptocurrency is sent to the scammer’s wallet, it can be difficult and time-consuming to trace and recover, which is why law enforcement agencies frequently involve cybercrime specialists.

Multi-Agency Investigation Traced Scammed Funds

The case was investigated by the U.S. Secret Service Cyber Fraud Task Force, which worked with several local law enforcement partners to trace the stolen funds. Agencies assisting in the investigation included:

• East Baton Rouge Parish Sheriff’s Office (Louisiana)
• Avoyelles Parish Sheriff’s Office (Louisiana)
• Randall County Sheriff’s Office (Texas)
• Renville County Sheriff’s Office (Minnesota)

The U.S. Attorney’s Office reported that investigators gathered detailed information from the victims, which helped them follow the flow of funds through cryptocurrency transactions and identify the wallet used at the Seychelles-based exchange.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney J. Brady Casey.

DOJ Elder Justice Initiative Supports Elder Fraud Cases

The Department of Justice noted that this forfeiture and recovery effort aligns with its Elder Justice Initiative, a program designed to combat elder abuse, neglect, and financial exploitation.

The Elder Justice Initiative:

• Supports state and local prosecutors and law enforcement.
• Provides training and resources for professionals who work with older adults.
• Shares information on emerging schemes, including technology-driven fraud and cryptocurrency scams.

More information about the program and elder fraud prevention resources is available at www.justice.gov/elderjustice.