Ethereum Developer Virgil Griffith has been taken into custody after a federal judge ruled he violated the terms of his bail, according to an Inner City Press report.
Virgil Griffith, a researcher with Ethereum Foundation, is charged with conspiracy to violate the International Emergency Economic Power Act.
The remand ordered came from United States District Judge Castel after Griffith reportedly sought to access Ether (ETH) asset held by Coinbase in May.
U.S federal officials believe Ethereum Developer Virgil Griffith helped North Korea launder money through cryptocurrency. To avoid U.S sanctions by presenting blockchain conference in North Korean capital of Pyongyang in April 2019. He was arrested in November 2019.
After initially being denied bail, he was ultimately granted a bond order for $1M at the end of December 2019. Prosecutors sought remand in July, claiming that Griffith violated bail terms that sharply restrict his internet use. He reportedly accessed Coinbase to contact the exchange to request the removal of account security functions stating, “I’m going to need the two-factor authentication removed as the FBI took my devices away.”
Also Read: Ethereum Co-founder Quits the Crypto World For Safety Concerns
The U.S Attorney’s Office sought to revoke Griffith’s bail after he allegedly tried to access his cryptocurrency account on Coinbase. He accesses his Coinbase account through a third party -his mother. He had been granted bail on condition that he not access his account and remain under house arrest his parents in Alabama.
Of the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York, Judge Castel refused to hear anything. He cited the increase in the price of Ethereum since the bond was first set as a reason for Griffith to risk touching his accounts. Sensing a potential flight risk, Castel ordered Griffith taken into custody.
If convicted of conspiracy charges, he faces up to 20 years in prison.
