NEWARK, N.J. – A businessman and former resident of Utah has been charged with illegally operating an unlicensed cash transmitting company, U.S. Lawyer Philip R. Sellinger announced nowadays.

Christopher James Scanlon, 43, initially from Utah and now residing in the United Kingdom, is charged by complaint with one particular count of conspiring to handle and personal an unlicensed cash transmitting company. Scanlon was arrested at Miami International Airport nowadays and is anticipated to have his initial look in U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida on Friday.   

According to documents filed in this case and statements produced in court:

Scanlon was the president, chief executive officer, and founder of the brands Aurae Life style and Club Swann. From as early as 2015 by means of 2019, Scanlon controlled a series of legal entities – PMA Media Group Inc. AU Card LLC AU Card Ltd., and Nvayo Ltd., (collectively, the “AU Entities”) – that he operated as a cash transmitting company to offer fiat and cryptocurrency economic solutions to clients of Aurae Life style. Scanlon served as a client service representative for a number of higher-net-worth Aurae Life style clients. He frequently communicated with clients about economic transactions employing encrypted messaging applications and directed the AU Entities to conduct economic transactions for clients by means of U.S.-primarily based banks and cryptocurrency organizations. Scanlon operated Aurae Life style in the course of this time without the need of appropriately registering as a cash transmitting company with the Economic Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCen), a bureau of the U.S. Treasury Division.

The conspiracy count carries a maximum term of imprisonment of 5 years, a fine of up to $250,000 or twice the pecuniary obtain to the defendant or loss to the victims, whichever is greatest. 

U.S. Lawyer Sellinger credited particular agents of IRS – Criminal Investigation, below the path of Specific Agent in Charge Tammy Tomlins, and particular agents of the U.S. Attorney’s workplace, below the path of Specific Agent in Charge Thomas Mahoney, with the investigation top to the charges.

The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jamie Hoxie Solano and Sophie E. Reiter of the Cybercrime Unit in Newark.

The charge and allegations contained in the complaint are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and till confirmed guilty.