Florida authorities have seized about $1.5 million in cryptocurrency after tracing funds from a Citrus County investment fraud case to a wallet linked to a Chinese national.
The action followed a court order obtained by the Office of Statewide Prosecution’s Cyber Fraud Enforcement Unit.
Attorney General James Uthmeier confirmed that the assets belonged to Tu Weizhi, who now faces charges of money laundering, grand theft, and running an organized fraud scheme.
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In a statement, Uthmeier said, “While scammers are changing their methods, I am proud of our Statewide Prosecutors’ ability to adapt and deliver justice”.
The case began in July 2024, when a Citrus County resident reported losing $47,421 after sending money to what appeared to be an online investment opportunity. Investigators followed the transactions and eventually connected them to a digital wallet believed to be controlled by Tu.
Rather than recovering only the victim’s loss, prosecutors asked the court to authorize the seizure of the wallet’s entire contents. Officials said the account held several types of cryptocurrency, including Avalanche
The Attorney General’s office valued the total holdings at about $1.5 million. Tu is believed to be in China, and authorities stated that he will be taken into custody if he enters the United States.
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