OneCoin Scammer Indicted on $400 Million Money Laundering Charge
A Florida attorney who helped hide stolen cryptocurrency funds through shell companies faces federal charges after a year-long investigation finally caught up with him.
Mark Scott was indicted on August 21st on money laundering conspiracy charges connected to the OneCoin Ponzi scheme. Federal agents arrested him two weeks later on September 5th.
The indictment stems from a joint FBI and DOJ investigation into how OneCoin, a fraudulent cryptocurrency scheme, moved investor money through the US financial system. Scott allegedly laundered approximately $400 million in stolen funds using three shell companies to disguise "the nature, location, source, ownership, and control" of the money.
Scott, a licensed Florida attorney, didn't work alone. He established MSS International Consultants in the British Virgin Islands, then created two additional US entities: 133 Sunset Lane Acquisition Limited and MSSI 31 Dale Avenue Property Group LLC. These weren't just paper companies. They bought real estate.
In 2016 and 2017, Scott used 133 Sunset Lane to purchase a $2.85 million mansion in Massachusetts where he lived with his wife, Lidia Kolesnikova. Around the same time, MSSI 31 Dale Avenue picked up a $3.7 million property in Hyannis Port, Massachusetts. Both homes were paid for with investor money stolen through the OneCoin scheme.
The indictment documents transactions flowing between these entities and international accounts, showing a systematic effort to move OneCoin proceeds into legitimate real estate holdings. Federal prosecutors want Scott to forfeit all property and money connected to the laundering scheme. If he's already spent or sold assets, they're seeking compensation from whatever he has left.
Scott posted $2.5 million bail on September 10th and walked free, but under strict conditions. He surrendered his travel documents, accepted electronic monitoring, and was confined to his home.
When federal agents first served the warrant at his Massachusetts residence, they discovered Kolesnikova inside with an infant and an unsecured weapon on a nearby end table—raising immediate safety concerns that investigators documented.
The case raises broader questions about OneCoin's reach into American law enforcement circles. Court records show sealed filings began appearing in Scott's docket on October 17th, 2017—suggesting authorities may have been investigating him months before his indictment. When exactly the FBI and DOJ began looking at OneCoin itself remains unclear. The sealed filings could contain information on additional targets, hinting that Scott may not be the only American professional helping launder the scheme's proceeds.
The indictment covers transactions from 2016 to present, giving prosecutors a wide window to examine how stolen OneCoin funds moved through the American financial system. As other sealed cases hint, Scott's arrest may just be the beginning.
🤖 Quick Answer
Who is Mark Scott and what are the charges against him?Mark Scott is a Florida attorney indicted on August 21st on money laundering conspiracy charges. He allegedly laundered approximately $400 million in stolen cryptocurrency funds connected to the OneCoin Ponzi scheme, using three shell companies to disguise the nature, location, source, ownership, and control of the money. Federal agents arrested him on September 5th.
What is the OneCoin scheme?
OneCoin is a fraudulent cryptocurrency Ponzi scheme that defrauded numerous investors. The scheme involved moving investor money through the US financial system illegally. A joint FBI and DOJ investigation uncovered how the stolen funds were laundered, leading to criminal charges against those involved in facilitating the money movement.
How did Scott allegedly hide the stolen funds?
Scott allegedly used three shell companies to launder approximately $400 million in stolen OneCoin
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