On December 17, a federal judge in Connecticut, Michael P. Shea, sentenced Dylan Meissner, a former finance vice president of Delphi Digital, to 48 months in prison for stealing nearly $4.5 million from the cryptocurrency research company.
Although the Justice Department referred to the victim as “Company A”, court documents made by Meissner’s lawyer confirm that Delphi Digital was the company involved.
Meissner's sentence was less than the six to eight years prosecutors recommended but slightly below his lawyer’s suggestion.
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The court included two years of supervised release after prison and ordered Meissner to repay more than $4.6 million to cover the stolen funds and an unpaid loan.
In January 2022, Delphi lent Meissner 50 Ethereum
Meissner altered financial records to cover up the missing money. His actions continued until he was fired in November 2022.
In July 2024, Meissner pleaded guilty to wire fraud as part of a deal with prosecutors. He was released on a $100,000 bond but will begin serving his sentence in February 2025.
During sentencing, Meissner’s lawyer asked the court to consider his history of substance abuse and his efforts to stay sober. They also noted that Meissner admitted to his wrongdoing and helped the company by detailing the financial damage he caused. However, prosecutors argued that his actions were intentional and calculated.
Another crypto-related legal case happened on December 12. Frank Richard Ahlgren III, an early Bitcoin