A California man, John Khuu, aged 29, has been sentenced to 87 months in federal prison for money laundering related to MDMA sales on the dark web. Khuu pleaded guilty to conspiracy charges involving money laundering and operating an unlicensed money-transmitting business. He imported MDMA from Germany, accepted Bitcoin as payment, and laundered the profits through numerous transactions and multiple financial accounts. His arrest was part of Operation Crypto Runner, a multi-agency investigation led by the DOJ, US Secret Service, and Postal Inspection Service. This operation also targeted money laundering related to various crypto scams, with heightened attention on the growing trend of using cryptocurrencies for illicit activities. Blockchain firm Chainalysis predicted that cryptocurrency-based money laundering for 2024 could exceed $40 billion, raising concerns about tracking the proceeds of crime from narcotics and other illegal sources. The case highlights the increasing use of cryptocurrency by drug traffickers and the federal government's efforts to combat such illegal financial activities.

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