Dark-web drug dealers selling ketamine, MDMA and counterfeit Xanax in every state in America. An identity thief hacking into his targets’ cellphones. A member of an Eastern European organized crime syndicate.
These, prosecutors said, were just some of the customers of Thomas Spieker, a former party producer who was charged on Thursday in state court in Manhattan with laundering more than $2.3 million in Bitcoin for criminals around the world from 2018 to 2021.
Prosecutors described Mr. Spieker, 42, as a virtual Bitcoin A.T.M., exchanging cash for cryptocurrency. In addition to the $2.3 million in Bitcoin he was charged with laundering, he was accused of converting more than $380,000 in cryptocurrency into cash.
Mr. Spieker was charged with several counts of money laundering and unlicensed money transmission. He pleaded not guilty and was released on his own recognizance. His lawyer, Richard Verchick, declined to comment.
Charged with him were:
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Zashan Khan, 30, and Cosmas Siekierski, 25, of Manhattan, who prosecutors said sold illegal drugs over the dark web, a part of the internet where illegal activity thrives and that is accessible also only though special software. An online storefront the two operated, OVO sweatshop, took its name from the rapper Drake’s record label, October’s Very Own.
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Anderson LaRoc, 33, of Brooklyn, who prosecutors said targeted 30 victims in an identity-theft scheme.
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Dustin Sites, 33, of Brooklyn, who prosecutors said helped Mr. Spieker by opening…
