ENSIGN TRADING

The United States government has initiated civil proceedings to forfeit cryptocurrency valued at approximately $7.1 million in connection with an international investment fraud scheme involving oil and gas storage, with ties to Nigeria and Russia.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Washington filed the civil action on Tuesday, July 22, 2025. The crypto assets were seized in December 2024 following an investigation by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI).

According to Acting U.S. Attorney Teal Luthy Miller, the seized funds are part of a broader scheme that defrauded investors of over $97 million between June 2022 and July 2024.

“The co-schemers in this fraud moved their ill-gotten gain through various cryptocurrency accounts to try to launder the money stolen from victims,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Miller. “Federal investigators and prosecutors in our office moved as quickly as possible to trace and seize the cryptocurrency so that some of the losses can be returned to victims.”

Court filings reveal that from at least August 2022 through August 2024, perpetrators lured victims with offers to invest in oil tank storage facilities located in Rotterdam, Netherlands, and Houston, Texas. Investors were told they could make lucrative profits by renting out the storage tanks. However, after transferring funds to accounts tied to fraudulent entities—including Sea Forest International LLC, Apex Oil and Gas Trading LLC, and Terminal Energy International Escrow Service LLC—victims received no returns or communication.

The primary U.S.-based suspect, 47-year-old Geoffrey K. Auyeung of Newcastle, Washington, was indicted in August 2024. He is accused of receiving large sums from the fraudulent investments and rapidly dispersing the funds through at least 81 financial institution accounts and 19 cryptocurrency wallets. The assets were then converted into cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin, Tether, USD Coin, and Ethereum, and routed through exchanges like Binance.

According to the government, many of the cryptocurrency accounts were associated with users in Russia and Nigeria. Funds were transferred to exchanges in both countries, including platforms believed to facilitate money laundering for transnational criminal organisations and entities that breach international sanctions.

In addition to the $7.1 million in crypto assets, U.S. authorities had earlier seized $2.3 million from Auyeung’s bank accounts. If the court approves the latest forfeiture action, the seized funds will be returned to the victims.

So far, investigators have identified dozens of victims defrauded out of approximately $17.9 million. That figure is expected to rise as further victims are identified and verified.

The case is being investigated by Homeland Security Investigations and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jehiel Baer and Yunah Chung.

You won’t just lose money, you’ll lose sleep, confidence, friendships, and sometimes even yourself.

You’ll sit alone on the charts at 2 AM, questioning your worth because of the red numbers(loses).

You’ll watch months of gains vanish because of a single emotional trade and the pain will be silent, because no one around you really understand you.

You’ll feel like a failure in a world that glamorizes Lambos and freedom while you’re secretly drowning in self doubt and loses.

You’ll keep your losses a secret from friends and family, pretending everything’s fine while you're breaking down deep inside.

You’ll wonder if you were ever good enough for this.😔😔😩
They never told us trading would test our mental health more than our technical skills.

They told us that trading would make us so rich but they didn’t tell us it would make us feel worthless first.

While others celebrate wins on Instagram, you’re silently grieving your losses with no one to talk to.

You smile in public, but cry on your charts when no one's watching.

You’ll lose more than money, you’ll lose yourself.
You'll forget what a good day really feels like because your mood is tied to the candlesticks.

You’ll stop celebrating birthdays and weekends because every day feels like a battle you’re quietly losing.

You’ll pray before a trade, then curse yourself after.
The emotional whiplash is real you go from hopeful to hopeless in a split seconds and when you blow your account, you’re not just losing money you’re already losing faith in yourself.

You’ll suffer silently, because no one really understands.

Your parents at some point might not get it, your friends think it’s gambling and when you try to explain, they'll say, “Just quit.”
But they don’t know this isn’t just charts. It’s your dream.
And letting go feels like killing a part of you.

You’ll watch others succeed while you fail over and over again.
You’ll ask yourself, “Why not me?”
You’ll clap for others while your heart bleeds because you still want this even if it’s breaking you.

They show the yachts, the watches, and the profits but never the tears, the therapy, and the nights they wanted to quit.

You didn’t come this far to only lose money.
You came this far to find the version of you that doesn’t break when it hurts.

Take the pain.
Learn from it.
Grow through it.
Your future self is already proud so don’t stop now, you're closer than you think📈📈

I'm rooting for you😔❤️❤️

Change these money habits and see the changes in your finance 🧵👇

The way you talk about money is why you're not wealthy.

Here are 20 toxic money

Beliefs you learned as a kid, keeping you stuck today:

1. "Money is the root of all evil."

Money is just a tool. It amplifies who you are. Learn to control it, not fear it.

2. "We can't afford that."

Ask, "How can we afford that?" The right question leads to the right solutions.

3. "A stable job is the safest way to make money."

No job is truly safe. Build skills and assets that create income without you working.

4. "Rich people are greedy."

The wealthiest people give the most. Money in the right hands changes the world.

5. "Investing is too risky."

Not investing is the real risk-because inflation is robbing you daily.

6. "Debt is bad."

Bad debt buys liabilities. Good debt buys assets that make you richer.

7. "All rich people inherited wealth."

79% of U.S. millionaires are self-made. Wealth is built, not given.

8. "Money can't buy happiness."

Lack of money creates stress. Money buys freedom, choices, and peace of mind.

9. "I'll start saving when I make more money."

You won't. Start with 10% of what you make now-and increase it.

10. "A house is always a great investment."

A house is a liability unless it pays you. Learn the difference between assets & debts.

13. "You have to work hard to get rich."

The rich work smart. They leverage money, people, and systems to scale wealth.

14. "Success means a high salary."

Income means nothing if you don't own assets that keep making money for you.

15. "Wealthy people got lucky."

Luck is preparation meeting opportunity.

Wealth is built by playing the long game.

16. "Taxes are just part of life."

The rich legally use tax strategies to keep more of their money.

Learn how to do the same.

17. "Budgeting is restrictive."

It's freedom. A budget lets you control your money instead of money controlling

you.

18. "I'll never be rich."

If you think that way, you won't be. Shift your mindset, learn, and take action.

19. "Wealth takes a lifetime to build."

It takes knowledge, not time. The right skills can multiply your income in years, not decades.

20. "Retirement means quitting work."

Retirement means having enough passive income to work when you want-not because you have to.