The FBI operated the crypto money laundering network named Elon Musk for nearly a year – A shocking truth from court records


A new investigation has revealed a shocking truth: the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has been running an undercover cryptocurrency money laundering campaign branded #ElonMusk , lasting nearly a year, while posing as a cybercriminal to continue processing transactions for hackers and drug traffickers.


The entire operation was quietly run from a small warehouse-sized post office in Kentucky, but involved millions of dollars worth of crypto and notorious global cybercrime groups.



🧠 Intriguing plot: From darknet to the U.S. Postal Service


The ringleader was initially Anurag Pramod Murarka, 30 years old, an Indian national, who was actively operating on the darknet from April 2021 to September 2023. Murarka used aliases such as 'elonmuskwhm' and 'la2nyc' to promote money laundering services for drug traffickers and hackers.



  • Murarka received cryptocurrency from customers, then converted it to cash through the hawala network – an informal and illegal money transfer system in many countries.



  • The money was hidden in envelopes, children's books, and sent as regular goods to avoid detection.




The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) confirmed that more than $20 million was laundered through Murarka's system.



🎯 FBI 'swoops in' and... takes over the money laundering operation


After a period of surveillance, #FBI approved a visa for Murarka to enter the U.S., playing into his trust. As soon as he set foot in the U.S., he was immediately arrested.


And then the unexpected happened: the FBI did not stop there. They took over the entire money laundering network that Murarka left behind and continued to operate as an undercover campaign lasting nearly a year!



  • The FBI took on the role of Murarka, continuing to receive cryptocurrency from other criminals.



  • Transactions were processed from a small post office in Kentucky, like a 'stealth' center in the heart of America.



  • During the operation, the FBI managed to prevent an additional $1.4 million from being successfully laundered, according to court records.





Some 'customers' that the FBI continued to transact with during the operation of this network included:



  • Transnational drug traffickers.



  • Members of the Scattered Spider hacking group, a notorious group that has caused many serious cyberattacks.




The FBI not only processed transactions but also gathered intelligence, monitored, and exposed the links in the international cybercrime network, expanding the investigation scale instead of just 'striking once and then leaving.'



⚖️ Heavy penalties for Murarka


Anurag Murarka was sentenced to 10 years in prison in January 2025 for conspiracy to commit money laundering. Under U.S. federal law, he must serve at least 85% of his prison sentence, after which he will be supervised for the next 3 years following his release.



🔍 Analysis: When the FBI poses as criminals to solve cases


This case raises many questions about the FBI's undercover investigation tactics:



  • Is continuing to transact with criminals instead of immediately prosecuting them actually effective and legal?



  • Or is this a testament to the flexibility and effectiveness in dismantling complex money laundering networks, thanks to the perfect 'disguise' capabilities of the investigative forces?




Regardless, the fact that a government agency used the identity 'Elon Musk' to run a crypto money laundering operation is unprecedented and will certainly be analyzed thoroughly in future hearings or evaluations of law enforcement ethics.



🧩 Conclusion


The story of how the FBI posed as cybercriminals and continued to operate a money laundering network under the name 'elonmuskwhm' for nearly a year is no different from a modern spy movie.


This is not only a significant victory in dismantling the digital crime system but also evidence that crypto, if not well-regulated, can be easily exploited for malicious purposes.



⚠️ Risk warning: While blockchain and crypto offer many innovations in finance, they can also be easily exploited for illegal purposes if lacking oversight. Investors and users should be cautious in transactions and always conduct thorough research before using any platforms or partners in the cryptocurrency space.

#anhbacong