They weren’t spies. They weren’t arms dealers. They were crypto evangelists.But now they’re wanted by the U.S. government — accused of helping North Korea dodge global sanctions.In this episode of Fugitive Files, we unpack the strange and tangled case of Chris Emms and Alejandro Cao de Benós — two European citizens indicted by the U.S. Department of Justice for allegedly conspiring to provide North Korea with technical knowledge on blockchain and cryptocurrency.Their alleged crime? Helping organize a crypto conference in Pyongyang in 2019, where they — alongside American citizen Virgil Griffith — are accused of teaching North Korean officials how to use blockchain technology to launder money and evade international sanctions.The DOJ says this wasn’t just a tech talk — it was a national security threat. But critics call the prosecution an overreach: Emms and Cao de Benós weren’t U.S. citizens, and never touched American soil. One attendee described the event as “bizarre,” set against a backdrop of staged tours, tight surveillance, and veiled propaganda.Virgil Griffith was arrested and sentenced. Emms and Cao de Benós? Still at large.Both are currently wanted by the FBI for:Conspiracy to violate the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA)Providing services to a sanctioned countryHave information? Contact the FBI or visit tips.fbi.gov.This is Fugitive Files. Let’s get into it.
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They weren’t spies. They weren’t arms dealers. They were crypto evangelists.But now they’re wanted by the U.S. government — accused of helping North Korea dodge global sanctions.In this episode of Fugitive Files, we unpack the strange and tangled case of Chris Emms and Alejandro Cao de Benós — two European citizens indicted by the U.S. Department of Justice for allegedly conspiring to provide North Korea with technical knowledge on blockchain and cryptocurrency.Their alleged crime? Helping organ...