Seriously Burt, if i were you, i would start looking for another the country to move to. Canada? Europe? ...etc I'm sure your skill and work experience would allow you start fresh (after all you're starting fresh again after this right? )
Every single person that is trading Bitcoins on Localbitcoins.com or any other publicly available site could be subject to exactly what happened to me. All they have to do is declare what you are doing is a business and like magic they can do whatever they want. So all Bitcoiners would need to leave with me? |
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i doubt the government will return assets they seized .. they are probably holding the bitcoins 'in rem'
Were his Bitcoins taken? Was he somehow forced to reveal passwords? Did they prohibit you from discussing the methods of confiscation? On the day I was arrested at my client's office in front of my client and all my co-workers they did not have to tell me why I was being arrested - sealed arrest warrant. That same day they searched our house and did not have to tell us what they were looking for - sealed search warrant. After being arrested in front of my client, which was a nice touch as they immediately terminated our contract, they took me to our house. I was taken aback by the number of cars so I made a point of counting them, 22. The neighbors who watch the whole thing but failed to take any video (darn) counted up to 35 agents involved in the search. They were very thorough even searching the entire attic and crawl space, every book, etc. It took my wife weeks to get the house put back together. Imagine up to 35 people searching you house for hours, they had the manpower and time to search just about everywhere. During the search they got into my safe containing all of my physical Bitcoins and other Bitcoin related stuff. Since I was not doing anything wrong I never expected to be shaken down in this way. My security threat profile was common burglary and my main concern was making sure my wife would be able to sell the Bitcoins in the event of my death. So, the the vast majority of my Bitcoins were kept in a Trezor Bitcoin safe with the seed words kept off-site. After searching my house for many hours and not finding what they were looking for, but taking every computer and electronic memory device they could get their hands on, they phoned in a search warrant for my office, which was granted. Upon searching my office they found my off-site paper backup of the seed words for the Trezor which were there with retrieval instruction in the case of my death. They took all of our corporate computers and left. The rest is, as they say, history. Food for thought: my attorney informed me that they can and sometime do put people in jail until they turn over a password. So in reality your passwords are only as safe as your willingness to spend time in jail over them. After spending 3 days and 2 nights in solitary confinement (in the SHU at the federal detention center) I can tell you that most people will crack in pretty short order. It boring beyond comprehension. Part of the total cost shown on my wife's web site ($284,373.00) was the cost of replacing all of the computers and cell phones we needed in order for our business to keep operating. Of course once we get all the computers back we will then have more computers and phones than we know what to do with. Anyone want to buy a used computer that was under government control for nine months? |
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Are they returning the money and bitcoins they stole?
Not sure if I missed it, but what happens with the assets that were taken? Do you get them back or...?
i doubt the government will return assets they seized .. they are probably holding the bitcoins 'in rem'
We are working on getting our stuff back. |
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However the first and foremost, number one reason is that I had the best attorney for the job. He worked tirelessly on my behalf for almost nine months. I suggest him highly to anyone who every runs into legal troubles with their Bitcoin activities, keep his contact information handy: Contact: Brian Klein Baker Marquart LLP 10990 Wilshire Boulevard, 4th Floor Los Angeles, California 90024 Phone: (424) 652-7814 Email: bklein@bakermarquart.comHow about the original firm, that (presumably) took your money to help get you prosecuted for a crime you didn't commit? Who are they? They should be avoided for all litigation purposes. I think they are good at what they do and if I was guilty they probably could have cut me the best deal possible since they are very connected and are good friends with the prosecutors, etc. However they do not know a Bitcoin from a hole in the ground: Holland and HartTheir information is listed at the top of this document: http://ia902603.us.archive.org/19/items/gov.uscourts.cod.151411/gov.uscourts.cod.151411.docket.html |
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Glad you are out of that mess Burt. I was following it fairly closely. I would like to know exactly why they dropped the case, though.
I think there are a few reasons. I have a lot of theories and conjecture about it. However the first and foremost, number one reason is that I had the best attorney for the job. He worked tirelessly on my behalf for almost nine months. I suggest him highly to anyone who every runs into legal troubles with their Bitcoin activities, keep his contact information handy: STATEMENT Federal Criminal Case Against Burt Wagner Dismissed at the Request of the Department of Justice July13, 2015 I am very excited to announce that the criminal case against my client Burt Wagner was dismissed today. The U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Colorado filed a motion earlier today requesting that the U.S. District Court Judge handling the case, the Honorable William J. Martinez, dismiss the case against Mr. Wagner. Judge Martinez subsequently issued an order dismissing it. On October 7, 2014, Mr. Wagner was charged in a single-count indictment with violating 18 U.S.C. § 1960 (operation of unlicensed money transmitting business) in connection with his purchases and sales of bitcoins. Mr. Wagner entered a plea of not guilty. Although Mr. Wagner and I both wish he had never been charged, we appreciate the U.S. Attorney's Office ultimately doing the right thing and dismissing the criminal case against him. With this dismissal, Mr. Wagner can begin the process of resuming his regular life. It has been a true privilege to represent Mr. Wagner. I could not be happier for him and his family. Contact: Brian Klein Baker Marquart LLP 10990 Wilshire Boulevard, 4th Floor Los Angeles, California 90024 Phone: (424) 652-7814 Email: bklein@bakermarquart.com |
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Selling bitcoins on localbitcoins cost me $284,373.00 in legal fees and other expenses. We had to use our retirement savings and take out a second mortgage on the house - which we will be paying off for years to come. I take back everything nice I ever said about localbitcoins. STATEMENT Federal Criminal Case Against Burt Wagner Dismissed at the Request of the Department of Justice July13, 2015 I am very excited to announce that the criminal case against my client Burt Wagner was dismissed today. The U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Colorado filed a motion earlier today requesting that the U.S. District Court Judge handling the case, the Honorable William J. Martinez, dismiss the case against Mr. Wagner. Judge Martinez subsequently issued an order dismissing it. On October 7, 2014, Mr. Wagner was charged in a single-count indictment with violating 18 U.S.C. § 1960 (operation of unlicensed money transmitting business) in connection with his purchases and sales of bitcoins. Mr. Wagner entered a plea of not guilty. Although Mr. Wagner and I both wish he had never been charged, we appreciate the U.S. Attorney's Office ultimately doing the right thing and dismissing the criminal case against him. With this dismissal, Mr. Wagner can begin the process of resuming his regular life. It has been a true privilege to represent Mr. Wagner. I could not be happier for him and his family. Contact: Brian Klein Baker Marquart LLP 10990 Wilshire Boulevard, 4th Floor Los Angeles, California 90024 Phone: (424) 652-7814 Email: bklein@bakermarquart.com |
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I am back: STATEMENT Federal Criminal Case Against Burt Wagner Dismissed at the Request of the Department of Justice July13, 2015 I am very excited to announce that the criminal case against my client Burt Wagner was dismissed today. The U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Colorado filed a motion earlier today requesting that the U.S. District Court Judge handling the case, the Honorable William J. Martinez, dismiss the case against Mr. Wagner. Judge Martinez subsequently issued an order dismissing it. On October 7, 2014, Mr. Wagner was charged in a single-count indictment with violating 18 U.S.C. § 1960 (operation of unlicensed money transmitting business) in connection with his purchases and sales of bitcoins. Mr. Wagner entered a plea of not guilty. Although Mr. Wagner and I both wish he had never been charged, we appreciate the U.S. Attorney's Office ultimately doing the right thing and dismissing the criminal case against him. With this dismissal, Mr. Wagner can begin the process of resuming his regular life. It has been a true privilege to represent Mr. Wagner. I could not be happier for him and his family. Contact: Brian Klein Baker Marquart LLP 10990 Wilshire Boulevard, 4th Floor Los Angeles, California 90024 Phone: (424) 652-7814 Email: bklein@bakermarquart.com |
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I want to thank everyone for their support: STATEMENT Federal Criminal Case Against Burt Wagner Dismissed at the Request of the Department of Justice July13, 2015 I am very excited to announce that the criminal case against my client Burt Wagner was dismissed today. The U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Colorado filed a motion earlier today requesting that the U.S. District Court Judge handling the case, the Honorable William J. Martinez, dismiss the case against Mr. Wagner. Judge Martinez subsequently issued an order dismissing it. On October 7, 2014, Mr. Wagner was charged in a single-count indictment with violating 18 U.S.C. § 1960 (operation of unlicensed money transmitting business) in connection with his purchases and sales of bitcoins. Mr. Wagner entered a plea of not guilty. Although Mr. Wagner and I both wish he had never been charged, we appreciate the U.S. Attorney's Office ultimately doing the right thing and dismissing the criminal case against him. With this dismissal, Mr. Wagner can begin the process of resuming his regular life. It has been a true privilege to represent Mr. Wagner. I could not be happier for him and his family. Contact: Brian Klein Baker Marquart LLP 10990 Wilshire Boulevard, 4th Floor Los Angeles, California 90024 Phone: (424) 652-7814 Email: bklein@bakermarquart.comBTW here is an update on Micon: http://www.coindesk.com/bitcoin-poker-boss-pleads-guilty-to-nevada-gaming-charge/ Here are some more cases and their current status for your list in the OP: https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=934268.msg11890239#msg11890239 |
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From my attorney, who earned every penny we paid him: STATEMENT Federal Criminal Case Against Burt Wagner Dismissed at the Request of the Department of Justice July13, 2015 I am very excited to announce that the criminal case against my client Burt Wagner was dismissed today. The U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Colorado filed a motion earlier today requesting that the U.S. District Court Judge handling the case, the Honorable William J. Martinez, dismiss the case against Mr. Wagner. Judge Martinez subsequently issued an order dismissing it. On October 7, 2014, Mr. Wagner was charged in a single-count indictment with violating 18 U.S.C. § 1960 (operation of unlicensed money transmitting business) in connection with his purchases and sales of bitcoins. Mr. Wagner entered a plea of not guilty. Although Mr. Wagner and I both wish he had never been charged, we appreciate the U.S. Attorney's Office ultimately doing the right thing and dismissing the criminal case against him. With this dismissal, Mr. Wagner can begin the process of resuming his regular life. It has been a true privilege to represent Mr. Wagner. I could not be happier for him and his family. Contact: Brian Klein Baker Marquart LLP 10990 Wilshire Boulevard, 4th Floor Los Angeles, California 90024 Phone: (424) 652-7814 Email: bklein@bakermarquart.com |
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TheButterZone: thanks for looking up and posting all that. While you are at it could you post the current disposition of the other cases found by jbreher earlier in this thread? I am just curious. BurtW's indictment was filed on 2014 oct 07 in the US District Court for Colorado. On the same day, at least three other cryptocurrency related cases were filed in that same court, with the same special agent Arran McWhirter, with the same prosecuting attorney of Michele Korver, all offenses listed as occurring in Boulder County: 14-cr-00398 USA v Burton Wagner 18 USC 1960 Count 1: Operation of Unlicensed Money Transmitting Business 14-cr-00399 USA v Sean Swanson 18 USC 1960 Count 1: Operation of Unlicensed Money Transmitting Business 14-cr-00400 USA v Michael Seiler 18 USC 1956 (a)(3)(B) and (C) 18 USC 1960 Count 1: Money Laundering Count 2: Operation of Unlicensed Money Transmitting Business 14-cr-00401 USA v Katherine Noland and Thomas Noland 18 USC 1956 (a)(3)(B) and (C) 18 USC 1960 18 USC 2 Count 1: Money Laundering (Katherine) Count 2: Operation of Unlicensed Money Transmitting Business (Katherine and Thomas) In all four of these indictments, the text of the Operation of Unlicensed Money Transmitting Business count is essentially identical, differing only in the opening sentence naming the time period of the offenses, and in where the offenses occurred. The Money Laundering counts for the latter two cases (Seiler and Noland) specifically mention 'distribution of controlled substances'. Source: US Courts' PACER documentation system https://www.pacer.gov |
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Congratulations.
You still have to pay your own legal fees even if found not guilty? That's... medieval.
i think a public defender is still free .......usually some useless wimp that will agree with the prosocution case and recommend you take the plea bargain if you want a top notch lawyer that will fight your case tooth and nail and spend days doing research ,i think that comes out of your own pocket which is kinda shit if you cant afford decent legal represantation One of the few great things about going though these types of experiences is some of the people you meet in your journey. I was introduced to an amazing former attorney here in Boulder that practiced law for over 50 years. The storied he can tell! Check out his blogs if you get a chance. https://denniscomments.wordpress.com/Anyway he told me all about public defenders. Follow the money. They do not work for you. Here is an example of his writings on that specific subject: Re: Poor Representation by a Public Defender
The difference between private and public attorneys is one of philosophy and advocacy. To be an advocate, one must not judge. However, PDs define their job as protecting rights rather than actually representing a person. They have little concept of attorney-client relationship nor of the obligation to be both an attorney and counselor. Since they are in a particular courtroom all the time, they have to "get along" and become part of the bureaucracy, processing cases rather than defending "clients". This situation is a political one, not a legal one. A grievance should not be filed against the PD, but against the Supreme Court and legislature for structuring such an unfair system. The result of commidification and marketing services, together with the concept of "specialization" has all but precluded citizen involvement in the court system.
The fault lies with the electorate and the lack of information or care of the public. The problem is with criminalization of poverty and social problems, relying upon threats, fear and incarceration instead of compassion and logic. SourceThe just-a-system is so broken to the core it may be beyond repair. The plea bargaining process has destroyed the core concept "adversary". My first law firm never even considered the idea of going to court - their job as they see it is to get you the best plea deal possible. They assumed from the start that I was guilty and everything they did was based on that assumption. Civil asset forfeiture has destroyed the constitutional checks and balances. I could go on for pages and Dennis does in his blogs, much more eloquently than I can. I plan to read everything he has written there as I get time. |
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That depends. Exactly how did you use bitaddress to create your wallet? They have several methods. Some are good, some can be really bad.
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You have been wronged? I will bet your story pales to mine.
Cry me a river.
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Great thread. Very informative.
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"In a video interview with the Wall Street Journal, Mr. Casares says he’s not worried about bitcoin’s own volatility hampering its adoption – though he expects significant volatility over the next few years. He predicts that in a decade, one bitcoin will be worth somewhere between half a million dollars to one million dollars." http://blogs.wsj.com/digits/2014/04/02/bitcoin-price-to-1-million/Again, this is not possible or even desirable until maybe era 6 - unless the value of the dollar falls significantly. We cannot/do not want to get to $500,000 per BTC any time soon. Here is the math behind it: https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=694401.0If BTC were to go to $500,000 in this era it would cause a catastrophic mining bubble: $500,000 x 25 = $12,500,000 per block = $75,000,000 per hour $75 million per hour would drive the mining to attempt to use 675 GW. This is about 30% of all the power generated on the planet. So, in order to keep our power consumption under about 2% of world wide power production, we cannot/do not want the price to get to $500,000 before era 6, which is about 2033 or so. Using my previously derived formula for the power consumption: P = (6(50/2 e) + f)(x)(1 - g)/c [kW] where: x = exchange rate [USD/BTC] e = era [0..32] (we are currently in era 1) f = average fees per hour [BTC/hour] c = cost of energy [USD/kWh] g = average gross profit margin [unitless ratio] we can look at the power consumption in each era assuming a price of $500,000 per BTC. In order to make it simple I will make the following assumptions: x = $500,000 per BTC f = fees per hour will keep the coinbase above 6 BTC/hour (1 BTC/block) in all eras c = $0.10 per kWh g = 0.1 miner gross profit margin Original target Subsidy Est Fees Power % of total world
Era starting year BTC/block BTC/hour GW power production
--- --------------- ----------- ---------- ----- ----------------
0 2009 50.00000000 0.00000000 1,350 58.41%
1 2013 25.00000000 0.00000000 675 29.20%
2 2017 12.50000000 0.00000000 337 14.60%
3 2021 6.25000000 0.00000000 169 7.30%
4 2025 3.12500000 0.00000000 84 3.65%
5 2029 1.56250000 0.00000000 42 1.83%
6 2033 0.78125000 1.31250000 27 1.17%
7 2037 0.39062500 3.65625000 27 1.17%
8 2041 0.19531250 4.82812500 27 1.17%
9 2045 0.09765625 5.41406250 27 1.17%
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I want to personally thank each and every one of you. Jean posted a thank you here: http://www.burtw.com/wow-.htmlCheck it out. There is a nice picture of Zoë with Bitcoin "Santa Claus". We are truly grateful for all the love and support we have received from the Bitcoin community. |
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Also a fun estimator as to when the next difficulty adjustment will happen as well as an estimate as to when the next block reward drop will happen is here: http://bitcoinclock.com/ |
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How long time will take to mine all that 21 mln,diff will rise more
Finally miners will turn off the light and go home
The last satoshi will be mined some time around 2140. The amount of mining, the difficulty, the number of miners, etc. will not change that by more than one or two years one way or the other unless everyone quits mining (Bitcoin death). Other than that the system will adjust to the amount of mining by design and the rate of BTC production will remain on schedule. where did you get 2140? I can't remember whether it's 2120 or 2140 but it's definitely not 2020. Probably 2140. Where? just Google it. See the year column in the second chart here: https://en.bitcoin.it/wiki/Controlled_supplyThe correct answer is 2140 (more or less). 2140. |
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How long time will take to mine all that 21 mln,diff will rise more
Finally miners will turn off the light and go home
The last satoshi will be mined some time around 2140. The amount of mining, the difficulty, the number of miners, etc. will not change that by more than one or two years one way or the other unless everyone quits mining (Bitcoin death). Other than that the system will adjust to the amount of mining by design and the rate of BTC production will remain on schedule. |
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I agree with you , also theirs some miners who always burn their bitcoins I don't know
why but they are really burning a lot like 20 - 30 btc and till now i can see some burning
wallet that can't be every generated with more than 1000 btc , also theirs some hack
cases that the hacker won't use ever that btc ,,,, the 21 Millions won't ever exist .
Bitcoin Boy .
Miners burning 20-30 BTC ? Really ? Your source please... Its my pleasure man , I don't think you will believe it  : https://blockchain.info/address/1CounterpartyXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXUWLpVrThis is a wallet created for miners that burn bitcoin now it have more than 2130 BTC did you think that's not burning and the amount of btc won't reduce ? Best wishes , Bitcoin Boy . Interesting... so what's the purpose ? Why are they burning ? This is the XCP proof of burn address. Funnny... it seems miners are burning coins to prove loyalty to XCP. The man/men behind XCP might hold the private key of the address. If anyone had the private key then it would not be a proof of burn address now would it. Nobody has the private key to that address because the private key was never generated. If someone could find the private key to that address then Bitcoin would be broken - and it is not broken. Re-read the proof of burn article I gave you if you want to know why someone would burn BTC to that specific address. Maybe this article will help you understand: http://counterparty.io/news/why-proof-of-burn/ |
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