DOJ’s 127,271 BTC forfeiture case returns to focus amid scam-compound crackdowns

The U.S. Department of Justice is again drawing attention for a bitcoin forfeiture case tied to Cambodian national Chen Zhi, also known as Vincent. Prosecutors sought forfeiture of about 127,271 BTC—valued at roughly $15 billion at the time—while federal investigations highlighted links between crypto scams and trafficking, money laundering, and organized crime. Separate FBI actions cited billions in alleged scam-center fraud and additional measures targeting scam compounds across multiple regions.