In a major development in the ongoing investigation into the OneCoin cryptocurrency pyramid scheme, Irina Dilkinska, the former Head of Legal and Compliance for the company, has been extradited to the United States and charged with conspiracy to commit wire fraud and money laundering.

The charges against Dilkinska carry a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison each, meaning she could face up to 40 years behind bars if convicted on both counts. Dilkinska is just the latest individual to be charged in connection with the OneCoin scheme, which has been described as a $4 billion multilevel marketing scam based on a phony cryptocurrency.

Dilkinska’s alleged role in the OneCoin scheme

According to US federal court prosecutors, Dilkinska played a key role in the OneCoin pyramid scheme, which promised investors huge returns in exchange for buying packages of OneCoin tokens. Prosecutors allege that Dilkinska helped launder millions of dollars in her former role as Head of Compliance for the company.

Dilkinska was extradited from Bulgaria, where she had been residing, to face the charges against her. US Attorney Damien Williams announced the charges in a Department of Justice announcement on Tuesday.

Other individuals charged in connection with the OneCoin scheme

Dilkinska is just the latest individual to be charged in connection with the OneCoin scheme. The scheme’s founder, Ruja Ignatova, has been charged with wire fraud, securities fraud, and money laundering, and is currently a fugitive from justice. Ignatova’s brother, Konstantin Ignatov, has also been charged in connection with the scheme and is currently awaiting sentencing.

In addition to the criminal charges, the OneCoin scheme has also been the subject of civil lawsuits and regulatory actions around the world. The US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has filed a civil lawsuit against OneCoin and several individuals associated with the company, while authorities in several countries have issued warnings about the scheme to investors.