MAN GOES TO TRIAL ON CHARGES HE RAN UNLICENSED BITCOIN BIZ

A New Hampshire man accused of running an unlicensed bitcoin exchange business catered to romance and imposter scammers who conned their victims into wiring him money that he shared as virtual currency with the criminals after taking his cut, a prosecutor alleged during opening statements in his trial Tuesday.

- 

But lan Freeman, who also is accused of money laundering, conspiracy, and four counts of tax evasion, actually warned people of scams and he helped businesses in the community, his lawyer said in the federal trial in Concord.

Some of what the prosecution is saying is "absolute nonsense, defense attorney Mark Sisti said. Freeman has pleaded not guilty.

Freeman, of Keene, was arrested last year, accused of running the unlicensed business and avoiding taxes from 2016 to 2019, said Georgiana MacDonald, assistant U.S. attorney.

She said Freeman designed his business so the ill-begotten gains could be hidden and the scammers could buy bitcoin anonymously.