Federal Defense Attorney who Defends Cryptocurrency Fraud Cases

Robert M. Helfend is a criminal defense attorney in the Los Angeles area who defends people accused of cryptocurrency fraud and related digital-asset crimes in federal court. He has practiced criminal defense since 1984, has successfully handled more than 4,000 criminal cases, and is recognized by organizations such as National Trial Lawyers Top 100, Super Lawyers, and Lead Counsel for his work in serious state and federal cases.

On his federal and cryptocurrency-focused pages, Mr. Helfend is specifically described as being at the forefront of cryptocurrency cases in federal courts, combining long experience in fraud, wire fraud, and money laundering with a working understanding of how crypto platforms, exchanges, and wallets actually operate.

What counts as cryptocurrency fraud?

“Cryptocurrency fraud” is not one single charge. It’s an umbrella term for schemes where prosecutors say someone used deception or trickery to obtain cryptocurrency, increase the value of a token, or convince others to invest or send funds.

Common patterns include:

• Misleading people into sending crypto in exchange for promised high returns that never materialize
• Running fake or unregistered exchanges, “investment platforms,” or trading bots
• “Pump and dump” schemes that artificially inflate a coin or token price before insiders sell
• NFT or DeFi “rug pulls,” where promoters abandon a project and disappear with investor funds
• Impersonating customer support or wallet providers to steal private keys or seed phrases
• Misusing mixers, tumblers, or cross-chain swaps as part of a fraudulent scheme
• Raising money for a token or project while lying about technology, backing, or risk

Depending on the facts, the government often charges these cases as wire fraud, securities fraud, commodities fraud, money laundering, computer fraud, tax evasion, or operating an unlicensed money-transmitting business—not as a standalone “crypto fraud” statute.

Common federal charges in cryptocurrency fraud cases

Because almost all crypto activity uses the internet and crosses state or national lines, cryptocurrency fraud is usually prosecuted in federal court. Typical charges include:

• Wire fraud (18 U.S.C. § 1343)
  Using email, websites, messaging apps, or other electronic communications to carry out a scheme to defraud. Each communication can be charged as a separate count, and a single count can carry up to 20 years in prison (more if it affects certain financial institutions).
• Securities or commodities fraud
  When a token, coin, or investment is treated as a security or commodity, misrepresentations about that investment can trigger securities or commodities-fraud charges with penalties that also can reach up to 20 years in prison in serious cases.
• Money laundering (18 U.S.C. §§ 1956, 1957)
  Moving or disguising the proceeds of fraud—often through crypto mixers, layered transfers, or conversion between coins and fiat—can lead to separate money-laundering counts, asset forfeiture, and additional prison exposure.
• Unlicensed money transmitting / exchange cases (18 U.S.C. § 1960)
  Running an unregistered exchange, OTC desk, or “cash-for-crypto” service can be charged as operating an unlicensed money-transmitting business.
• Computer fraud and abuse (18 U.S.C. § 1030)
  Hacks, unauthorized access to accounts or exchanges, and malware-based theft can bring computer-fraud charges on top of wire fraud and identity theft.
• Tax evasion and related offenses
  Failing to report crypto income or using digital assets to hide revenue from the IRS can lead to separate federal tax cases.

In larger indictments, the government often adds conspiracy counts and seeks forfeiture of wallets, accounts, and other assets tied to the alleged scheme.

How Robert M. Helfend defends cryptocurrency fraud cases

Cryptocurrency cases sit at the intersection of fraud law, financial records, and technical blockchain evidence. Mr. Helfend’s approach is structured and evidence-driven:

1. Early intervention and investigation

• Reviewing the indictment, complaint, or target letter to understand exactly which statutes and transactions are at issue
• Identifying which agencies are involved (FBI, IRS-CI, Secret Service, SEC, etc.) and what they are really focusing on
• Working to manage contact with agents and prosecutors so the client does not unintentionally damage their position

2. Analyzing the blockchain and paper trail

• Scrutinizing blockchain analysis, exchange records, and wallet attributions to see if they actually tie the client to specific transactions
• Examining whether analytics tools or investigators may have misattributed a wallet, misunderstood a mixer or bridge, or collapsed multiple people’s activity into one “scheme”
• Separating legitimate trading, high-risk speculation, or failed projects from actual misrepresentation and theft

3. Challenging scheme, intent, and knowledge

Most crypto fraud charges require proof that the client intended to deceive:

• Comparing what was actually said in whitepapers, pitch decks, social media posts, and chats against what prosecutors claim was promised
• Highlighting risk disclosures, disclaimers, and good-faith efforts at compliance that undercut an intention to defraud
• Showing when a client’s role was limited or subordinate (for example, a coder, marketer, or minor associate) rather than a mastermind

4. Attacking search, seizure, and digital evidence

• Reviewing warrants used for exchange records, wallet data, phone and computer searches, and cloud backups
• Challenging overbroad warrants, incorrect technical assumptions, or improper data handling that can justify suppression or limitation of evidence
• Carefully examining how agents handled private keys, devices, and any seized hardware wallets

5. Managing loss calculations, forfeiture, and sentencing exposure

Federal sentencing in crypto fraud cases is heavily driven by alleged “loss” and number of victims:

• Contesting inflated loss figures (for example, counting market swings as “loss” or attributing all project failures to fraud)
• Differentiating between unrealized paper losses and money actually obtained or kept by the accused
• Fighting overbroad forfeiture theories that reach beyond what can be tied to alleged criminal proceeds
• When appropriate, negotiating resolutions that reduce counts, narrow the loss amount, and contain custody time

Types of cryptocurrency fraud cases he handles

Mr. Helfend’s crypto-related defense work fits into the same categories his own cryptocurrency pages describe, including:

• Investment and “cash flipping” scams tied to Bitcoin and other digital assets
• Unregistered or unlicensed exchanges and OTC operations
• “Pump and dump” and other market-manipulation schemes involving coins, tokens, or NFTs
• Rug pulls and abandoned crypto or NFT projects where investors allege deception
• Money-laundering prosecutions that use crypto flows as part of the alleged scheme
• Cases where agents claim a client participated in a broader online scam that used crypto as the payment rail

In each, the goal is the same: reduce or eliminate criminal liability where possible, or contain the damage when the evidence cannot be fully avoided.

Why clients choose Robert M. Helfend for cryptocurrency fraud defense

People accused of cryptocurrency fraud or related federal charges turn to Mr. Helfend because:

• He has more than 40 years of criminal defense experience and has successfully handled over 4,000 cases
• He has a long track record in federal fraud, wire fraud, money laundering, and internet-based investigations
• His own cryptocurrency-defense pages position him as a National Trial Lawyers Top 100 attorney who has been at the forefront of federal crypto cases
• He is also a Super Lawyers honoree and Lead Counsel Rated, with a clean professional record
• He personally manages serious federal cases rather than handing them off to junior lawyers
• He is known for careful preparation, measured but firm advocacy, and clear communication with clients and families

For clients facing the possibility of long federal sentences, asset forfeiture, and permanent reputational damage, that depth of experience and focus on serious cases is critical.

Immediate steps if you’re under investigation for cryptocurrency fraud

If you suspect you are under investigation or have already been charged in a cryptocurrency fraud case:

• Do not talk to agents, investigators, or regulators about the facts of the case without a lawyer present
• Do not delete wallets, chats, transaction histories, or online accounts—this can destroy helpful evidence and create obstruction risks
• Gather any paperwork you have received, including subpoenas, target letters, search-warrant documents, and court notices
• Make a list of exchanges, platforms, wallets, and communications involved, as well as any prior contact with law enforcement or regulators

Then contact the Helfend Law Group at (800) 834-6434 or (310) 456-3317.
Share where the case is filed (or where you think it may be filed), what agencies are involved, and any upcoming deadlines so that a defense strategy can begin as soon as possible. Consultations are confidential, and representation is available 24 hours a day.