Australia’s finance watchdog has charged Brendan Gunn, the brother of Olympian breaker Rachael Gunn, for allegedly coping with cash suspected to be proceeds of crime whereas working a fiat-to-crypto conversion firm.
In a March 5 statement, the Australian Securities and Investments Fee stated Gunn was charged with one rely of coping with cash that might be moderately suspected to be the proceeds of crime.
“It's alleged that Mr Gunn handled two financial institution cheques, which contained the proceeds of 4 funding quantities totaling $181,000 made by three sufferer traders who deposited funds for conversion to cryptocurrency,” ASIC stated in its assertion.
Rachael Gunn, higher identified by her stage identify “Raygun,” went viral for her breakdance performances through the 2024 Olympics — considered one of which noticed her hop like a kangaroo.
She bombed out of the competitors, dropping all three of her battles on the video games. Nevertheless, her brother nonetheless complimented the efficiency.
Supply: Brendan Gunn
In its assertion, ASIC stated Brendan Gunn was a director at Mormarkets, an organization that accepted deposits for conversion to crypto.
“On behalf of Mormarkets, Mr Gunn sought to open a sequence of financial institution accounts on an ongoing foundation to obtain and switch deposits, regardless of financial institution accounts being repeatedly closed as a consequence of considerations about scams and Mr Gunn being knowledgeable of those considerations,” ASIC claimed.
Gunn confronted a neighborhood court docket on March 4 and is predicted to return on April 29. If convicted, he faces three years behind bars, a $37,800 high-quality, or each.
ASIC Chair Joe Longo stated the regulator “continues to prioritize rip-off prevention and detection exercise” and can take motion the place required.
Data for Gunn’s legal professionals was not instantly accessible.
It comes as regulators within the nation have flagged plans to shift focus towards the crypto trade.
Associated: Australian police find ‘Aladdin’s cave’ of stolen Bitcoin ATMs, Pokemon cards
Australia’s Anti-Cash Laundering regulator, the Australian Transaction Reviews and Evaluation Heart, recently took action against 13 remittance service providers and crypto exchanges in February, with over 50 others nonetheless being investigated relating to doable compliance points.
AUSTRAC CEO Brendan Thomas stated in December final yr the Anti-Cash Laundering regulator was shifting its focus to the cryptocurrency industry in 2025 amid a crackdown on crypto ATM providers who may be flouting Anti-Cash Laundering legal guidelines.
ASIC additionally released a consultation paper on proposed guidance for crypto in December, inserting many digital belongings beneath the class of monetary merchandise and requiring companies dealing in crypto to be licensed.
Journal: Off The Grid’s ‘biggest update yet,’ Rumble Kong League review: Web3 Gamer
