United States v. Virtual Currency Associated with North Korean IT Worker Money Laundering and Sanctions Evasion Conspiracies (D.D.C. Civil Action No. 25-1769 (RC))

Procedural record

1. 3 September 2026United States

   3 September 2026United States

   Memorandum Opinion of the United States District Court for the District of Columbia in Civil Action No. 25-1769 (RC) dated 3 September 2026

   United States District Court for the District of Columbia

   Case no.

   25-1769 (RC)

   Decision summary

   The Court granted in part and denied in part the Government's motion for default judgment and an order of forfeiture. It entered judgment for the United States and forfeited funds seized from virtual currency address 0x81c4, while denying the motion without prejudice as to the remaining Defendant Property.

   Supporting details

   United States of America

   United States District Court for the District of Columbia

   Judge

   Rudolph Contreras

   Authorities cited

   24

   • International Emergency Economic Powers Act, 50 U.S.C. §§ 1701(a), 1702(a) (50 U.S.C. §§ 1701(a), 1702(a))
     statute
   • International Emergency Economic Powers Act, 50 U.S.C. § 1705(a) (50 U.S.C. § 1705(a))
     statute
   • 18 U.S.C. § 981(a)(1)(A)
     statute
   • 18 U.S.C. § 981(a)(1)(C)
     statute
   • 18 U.S.C. §§ 1956(a)(1)(A)(i), 1956(a)(1)(B)(i), 1956(a)(2)(A), and 1956(h)
     statute
   • 18 U.S.C. § 1956(c)(7)(D)
     statute
   • 18 U.S.C. § 1343
     statute
   • 31 C.F.R. §§ 544.201, 544.202(c), 544.301, 544.308, and 544.405
     regulation
   • Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 55(a) and (b)(2) (Fed. R. Civ. P. 55(a), (b)(2))
     court rule
   • Federal Rule of Civil Procedure Supplemental Rule G(2), (4), and (5) (Fed. R. Civ. P. Supp. R. G(2), (4), (5))
     court rule
   • In re 650 Fifth Ave. & Related Props., 830 F.3d 66 (2d Cir. 2016)
     case
   • United States v. All Assets Held in Account No. XXXXXXXX, 330 F. Supp. 3d 150 (D.D.C.)
     case
   • Bricklayers & Trowel Trades International Pension Fund v. KAFKA Construction, Inc. (Bricklayers & Trowel Trades Int'l Pension Fund v. KAFKA Constr., Inc., 273 F. Supp. 3d 177 (D.D.C. 2017))
     case
   • United States v. Twenty-Four Cryptocurrency Accounts (United States v. Twenty-Four Cryptocurrency Accts., 473 F. Supp. 3d 1 (D.D.C. 2020))
     case
   • Jackson v. Beech, 636 F.2d 831 (D.C. Cir. 1980)
     case
   • H.F. Livermore Corp. v. Aktiengesellschaft Gebruder Loepfe, 432 F.2d 689 (D.C. Cir. 1970)
     case
   • Gilmore v. Palestinian Interim Self-Government Authority (Gilmore v. Palestinian Interim Self-Gov't Auth., 843 F.3d 958 (D.C. Cir. 2016))
     case
   • United States v. $6,999,925.00 of Funds Associated with Velmur Management Pte. Ltd. (United States v. $6,999,925.00 of Funds Associated with Velmur Mgmt. Pte. Ltd., 368 F. Supp. 3d 10 (D.D.C. 2019))
     case
   • Jackson v. Correction Corporation of America (Jackson v. Corr. Corp. of Am., 564 F. Supp. 2d 22 (D.D.C. 2008))
     case
   • United States v. $4,620 in U.S. Currency, 779 F. Supp. 2d 65 (D.D.C. 2011)
     case
   • United States v. $1,071,251.44 of Funds Associated with Mingzheng International Trading Ltd. (United States v. $1,071,251.44 of Funds Associated with Mingzheng Int'l Trading Ltd., 324 F. Supp. 3d 38 (D.D.C.))
     case
   • Mesa Valderrama v. United States, 417 F.3d 1189 (11th Cir.)
     case
   • United States v. 155 Virtual Currency Assets, No. 20-CV-2228 (RC), 2021 WL 1340971 (D.D.C. Apr. 9, 2021)
     case
   • International Painters & Allied Trades Industry Pension Fund v. R.W. Amrine Drywall Co. (Int'l Painters & Allied Trades Indus. Pension Fund v. R.W. Amrine Drywall Co., 239 F. Supp. 2d 26 (D.D.C.))
     case