Billion-dollar Bitcoin hacker Ilya Lichtenstein thanks Trump for early prison release

Just complete a twelvemonth aft being sentenced to 5 years successful situation for the theft of billions of dollars successful Bitcoin, hacker Ilya Lichtenstein is free. Lichtenstein announced his merchandise successful a station connected X, specifically crediting Trump: “Thanks to President Trump’s First Step Act, I person been released from situation early. I stay committed to making a affirmative effect successful cybersecurity arsenic soon arsenic I can.”

The First Step Act Lichtenstein referenced is simply a criminal justness betterment measure passed successful 2018 during the first Trump management and expands options for early release, specified arsenic earned clip credits. A Trump management charismatic confirmed the early merchandise successful a statement to CNBC, claiming that Lichtenstein “has served important clip connected his condemnation and is presently connected location confinement accordant pinch statute and Bureau of Prisons policies.”

Lichtenstein’s wife, Heather Morgan, replied to his announcement post pinch a photograph of the 2 of them. Morgan, who immoderate mightiness cognize arsenic the infamous rapper “Razzlekhan” aliases “the Crocodile of Wall Street,” was besides charged for the strategy to launder billions of dollars worthy of Bitcoin stolen successful the 2016 hack of crypto speech Bitfinex. She was only sentenced to 18 months successful prison, but was besides apparently released early, a improvement she announced from her bathtub successful a station connected X successful October. Morgan and Lichtenstein weren’t arrested for the hack until 2022. The duo person since go the taxable of a Netflix docuseries and an upcoming film.