A New Jersey jury has convicted a man for his role in a drug trafficking and money laundering operation that used wire transfers and cryptocurrency to move illicit funds.

The scheme, which prosecutors in the case say ran for six years, involved importing and distributing fentanyl-related substances.

Crypto-Fueled Drug Network

The federal jury found William Panzera guilty on January 27, with court records showing that he and his associates imported synthetic opioids from suppliers in China and later distributed them across New Jersey. The drugs, which included furanyl fentanyl, were sold in bulk form or as fake pharmaceutical pills.

To finance the operation, Panzera and his group moved hundreds of thousands of dollars through wire payments and crypto transactions. Authorities claim the funds ended up in the pockets of the traffickers’ overseas narcotics suppliers.

The investigation was led by the Newark division of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), with assistance from several federal and local law enforcement agencies, including the FBI, IRS, and U.S. Customs.

The 51-year-old’s sentencing is scheduled for June 25, and he faces the prospect of at least ten years in prison. There is also a possibility he could spend the rest of his life in jail for drug trafficking, as well as another 20 years for his role in the money laundering conspiracy.

Crypto’s Role in Criminal Enterprises

Panzera’s case is an example of the growing connection between crypto and organized crime. While still not as popular as fiat currency for money laundering, the pseudonymity and cross-border accessibility offered by digital assets make them an increasingly attractive option for criminals.

Recently, two Russian nationals, Sergey Ivanov and Timur Shakhmametov, were indicted for running a crypto-based money laundering service. The pair are alleged to have facilitated the transfer of nearly $800 million linked to cybercriminals and ransomware actors.

Similarly, in early 2024, a father and his son were sentenced to 19 and 54 months, respectively, for using Bitcoin to launder the proceeds of drug trafficking. The two, aged 72 and 38, reportedly made more than 9,000 BTC, worth about $150 million at the time, from manufacturing and selling Xanax on darknet marketplaces.