Originally published on: November 04, 2024
Heather Morgan, also known as the rapper “Razzlekhan,” is looking to avoid further jail time as she awaits sentencing for her involvement in laundering stolen Bitcoin from the crypto exchange Bitfinex.
In a recent filing with a Washington, DC federal court, Morgan’s lawyers pleaded for leniency, stating that she deserves a second chance. They requested a sentence of time served, highlighting Morgan’s compliance with pretrial release conditions since her release in mid-February 2022.
Morgan faces a potential ten-year prison sentence after admitting guilt in a plea deal last August for money laundering and fraud related to 120,000 Bitcoin stolen from Bitfinex by her husband, Ilya Lichtenstein.
US prosecutors have recommended an 18-month jail term for Morgan, emphasizing her cooperation and describing her as a lower-level participant in the crime compared to Lichtenstein. They noted that she was coerced into participating due to loyalty to her husband and a desire to maintain their life together.
Despite her involvement, Morgan’s lawyers argued that she was not the mastermind behind the scheme and only learned of her husband’s actions years later. Since her release, she has distanced herself from her rapper persona, Razzlekhan, and has been gainfully employed.
Lichtenstein, who admitted to stealing the Bitcoin and enlisting Morgan’s help to conceal the crime, is facing a five-year jail sentence. Prosecutors credited him for providing valuable assistance in various investigations but recommended a longer sentence due to his role in planning the theft.
Morgan is scheduled to be sentenced on Nov. 15, while Lichtenstein’s sentencing will take place a day earlier on Nov. 14. The outcome of their cases will determine their fate as they seek to move on from their involvement in the Bitfinex hack.
