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The notorious Crypto-queen, Dr. Ruja Ignatova, 38, who allegedly scammed investors out of $4 billion in a Ponzi scheme is still alive.

Her company OneCoin was in business between 2014 and 2016. The scam involved duping everyday people around the world into parting with their hard-earned money.

Ignatova and her business partner, Sebastian Greenwood, tricked crypto enthusiasts by claiming that their crypto token, OneCoin, would be a "Bitcoin killer." And convinced investors it would generate fivefold to tenfold returns. 

The Crypto-queen and her partner referred to their investors as "idiots" and "crazy." In 2017, as authorities circled the scammers, Ignatova vanished.

Greenwood also fled but he was arrested in July 2018. 

Police took him into custody in Koh Samui, Thailand. And he was extradited back to the US. 

He pleaded guilty to wire fraud, conspiracy to commit wire fraud, and conspiracy to launder money. He will be sentenced in April and could receive up to 20 years in prison.

Ignatova left the U.S. with a tremendous amount of cash. Money can buy many friends. And authorities believe that is why she has been able to stay off the grid.

Crypto-queen makes it to the most-wanted list

In 2019, the US Department of Prosecutions charged Ignatova with conspiracy to commit wire fraud, wire fraud, conspiracy to commit money laundering, conspiracy to commit securities fraud, and securities fraud.

 The FBI is offering a $100,000 reward for intel that ultimately leads to her arrest.

The FBI's Most Wanted List, established in 1950, features only 529 fugitives who have earned an honorable mention, and only 11 of them are women. Ignatova is the 11th woman to make it onto the list.

She is suspected of having traveled on a German passport from Athens, possibly to the United Arab Emirates, Germany, Russia, Eastern Europe, or even back to Bulgaria. 

Police warn that she has likely had plastic surgery to change her appearance.

OneCoin founder resurfaces in London

 She wasn't seen until a recent listing of a property in the heart of London brought her out of hiding. Lawyers representing Ignatova made a formal claim on the property, listing her as the apartment's "beneficial owner" in a filing with the UK's financial regulator.

A change in the rules of Companies House forced Ignatova out of hiding, as she had to be named in full rather than just her shell company. It meant Ignatova was kept out of public records and land registry deeds... until now. 

Jamie Bartlett, the host of The Missing Crypto-queen podcast, initially flagged a tenuous link between the fraudster and the penthouse. Now, this link has been confirmed.

Crypto scam unravels

The OneCoin scam has been called one of the biggest crypto scams in history. 

Ignatova's claims that OneCoin would take down Bitcoin have been called "completely worthless" by US officials. Investigators believe that documents containing vital clues to her recent whereabouts exist somewhere. 

Ignatova’s brother, Konstantin, 33, took over the operation after she fled the country. He was arrested in March 2019.

By complying with the terms of the plea deal, Ignatov will not face further criminal charges for his role in OneCoin. And he has been testifying against other conspirators. He may also be liable for some criminal tax violations that may emerge.

The document says Ignatov's cooperation with the authorities may "reveal activities of individuals who might use violence" against him or his family.

It suggests he will end up in the US witness protection program with a new identity.

Dr. Ignatova’s recent activity in London should make it easier for authorities to freeze remaining assets. And even start getting money back to victims.

The notorious Crypto-queen is still missing, but international authorities believe they are getting closer to catching her.

In the meantime, OneCoin is no longer operational. The token is unusable, and the website is inactive.