A UK court has sentenced Olumide Osunkoya, a 46-year-old man, to four years in prison for operating an illegal crypto ATM network. Osunkoya pleaded guilty to five offenses, including operating crypto ATMs without registration, forgery, using false identity documents, and possessing criminal property.
The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) accused Osunkoya of running his crypto ATM business, GidiPlus, despite being refused registration in December 2021. He continued to operate the business, charging markup fees of 30% to 60% on transactions, and even used fake bank statements to pass wealth checks.
The FCA warned that Osunkoya's actions were not just a regulatory breach, but a deliberate and calculated defiance of the law. The court's decision marks the first prosecution for unregistered crypto activity in the UK.
The FCA has been cracking down on illegal crypto ATMs, and this sentencing serves as a warning to others who may be engaging in similar activities.
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