The US Department of Justice Announces Seizure of Over $4 Billion in Assets Related to Coin Mixing Service Helix

BlockBeats News, January 30, the U.S. Department of Justice announced that it has formally obtained legal ownership of over $400 million in assets related to the dark web cryptocurrency mixing service Helix, including cryptocurrency, real estate, and cash assets. On January 21, District of Columbia District Court Judge Beryl A. Howell signed the final forfeiture order.

Helix, operated by Larry Dean Harmon, processed around 354,468 Bitcoin transactions from 2014 to 2017, worth $300 million at the time, primarily catering to money laundering needs of dark web drug dealers. Harmon pleaded guilty to money laundering conspiracy in August 2021 and was sentenced to 36 months in prison, 3 years of supervised release, and asset forfeiture in November 2024.