Ilya Lichtenstein, serving five years for the 2016 Bitfinex hack involving 120,000 BTC, vowed in a prison video to reform after his release. His wife, Heather Morgan, received an 18-month sentence for aiding in laundering the stolen funds.
Ilya Lichtenstein Apologizes in New Video
Ilya Lichtenstein, the spouse of Heather Morgan, the disgraced crypto hip hop satirist known as “Razzlekhan,” has released a five-minute video from prison. In the video, Lichtenstein pledges to make amends upon his release.
The unassuming Bitfinex hacker is currently serving a five-year prison sentence for the hijacking and laundering of 120,000 bitcoin (BTC) from the crypto exchange Bitfinex in 2016. At current market prices, this amount is worth nearly $12 billion.
In August 2023, Lichtenstein and Morgan both entered pleas of guilty to the offenses. Lichtenstein acknowledged that he was the mastermind behind the breach, while Morgan acknowledged that he assisted him in the laundering of the stolen money.
Morgan was sentenced to 18 months in prison, a sentence that was lenient in view of her diminished involvement in the crime.
In the video released by Lichtenstein, the 35-year-old psychology graduate pledged to atone for his past errors after the heist was uncovered, resulting in the largest crypto seizure in U.S. history.
“My days of malicious hacking are over,” Lichtenstein said. “Long years in federal prison are a powerful deterrent and I have definitely learned my lesson.”
He also emphasized that his wife had no significant role in the crime, firmly repeating, “Razzlekhan is not the Bitfinex hacker, I am.”
His video indicates that Lichtenstein could be released in approximately one year if he receives additional credit for good behavior, in addition to the twenty-nine months of credit he received for time served in detention following his arrest.
“When I’m released from prison, about a year from now, I plan to dedicate myself to working in the cybersecurity industry,” Lichtenstein said. “And I sincerely hope and expect that next time you hear something about me, it will be much more positive.”
