On Tuesday, October 13, 2026, the United States government filed a criminal charge in federal court in South Florida against a Broward County man accused of helping run an unlicensed cryptocurrency exchange operation.
Andrei Barsukov was charged in a one-count criminal information in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida. The charge is conspiracy to operate an unlicensed money transmitting business, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 371. The case is docketed as 26-60263-CR and assigned to Judge Singhal, with Magistrate Judge Strauss.
According to the filing, Barsukov and others, some known and some unknown to prosecutors, conspired from about April 2025 through about October 2025 to run a money-transmitting business without the required Florida license. Prosecutors say federal law requires such businesses to hold a state license where they operate, and that running one without authorization is a felony in Florida. The document states that neither Barsukov nor any alleged co-conspirator registered with the state or obtained a license.
Prosecutors allege the purpose of the scheme was to enrich the participants by offering the public a service that exchanged U.S. dollars for cryptocurrency, and cryptocurrency for dollars, in return for a percentage fee on each transaction.
The information describes how the operation allegedly worked. Co-conspirators used encrypted online messaging platforms to arrange conversions with customers. When customers wanted to turn cryptocurrency into cash, co-conspirators allegedly told them which digital wallets to send payment to. Barsukov and other couriers then allegedly met customers in person, often inside parked vehicles in public parking lots, to hand over or collect cash.
The government cited three specific acts in furtherance of the alleged conspiracy. It says Barsukov drove to a parking lot in Hallandale Beach, Florida, to deliver U.S. currency to one or more customers in exchange for cryptocurrency on April 16, June 10, and June 11, 2025.
The filing also contains forfeiture allegations. If Barsukov is convicted, prosecutors say, he would have to forfeit any real or personal property that constitutes, or is derived from, proceeds traceable to the offense.
The charge carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison, three years of supervised release and a $250,000 fine. There is no mandatory minimum sentence. The penalty sheet notes those figures do not include restitution, special assessments, or forfeiture.
Please contact BlockTribune for access to a copy of this filing.
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