Alleged ICO Fraudster Pleads Not Guilty in New York Court

A New York businessman with defrauding investors in two initial coin offerings (ICOs) pleaded not guilty in short last week.

As previously reported, Maksim Zaslavskiy has been involved with conspiracy to commit securities fraud just over a month ago. Filings dated Dec. 1 indicate that Zaslavskiy pled not guilty to the charges. And according to a report from Crain's, Zaslavskiy secured a $ 250,000 lease requirement with a Brooklyn-based property as collateral.

The case against Zaslavskiy is connected to two ICOs - one claimed to have been linked to the other and to the other connected to precious stones - which prosecutors have allegedly been fictitious in nature.

"As alleged, Zaslavskiy and his associates, Icos even though Zaslavskiy knew that no real estate or diamonds were actually backing the investments," acting U.S. Attorney Bridget Rohde said last month.

News that the U.S. government has been looking at the US Securities and Exchange Commission in the United States and the United States. At the time, the agency secured an asset freeze for two companies tied to the ICOs as well as Zaslavskiy himself.

Additional short filings from Dec. 1 indicate that the US government and Zaslavskiy are discussing a possible plea deal.

Justice statue image via Shutterstock

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