Attorney General James Uthmeier Announces Historic Crypto Fraud Recovery; Returns Record Funds to Victims
Courtesy of the Office of the Attorney General
TALLAHASSEE, Fla.—Attorney General James Uthmeier announced that the Office of Statewide Prosecution’s Cyber Fraud Enforcement Unit (CFEU) recovered a record-breaking $5.4 million in cryptocurrency in a case affecting victims in Florida and Massachusetts, making it the largest amount of cryptocurrency that has ever been recovered in a single statewide operation. This comes on the heels of a record-breaking first quarter, with $3.3 million recovered from cyber criminals. Since taking office, Attorney General Uthmeier has secured over $800 million in judgements, settlements, and seizures on behalf of Floridians.
“Cyber fraud often targets Florida’s seniors, and our office made it a priority to recover as much money as possible from cyber criminals and return it to victims,” said Attorney General James Uthmeier. “In a record-breaking partnership with the Marion County Sheriff’s Office, our Cyber Fraud Enforcement Unit is setting the standard for cryptocurrency recovery. We are committed to tracking down these criminals and returning funds to their rightful owners.”
“It truly angers me that there are people in this world that have no problem making victims of citizens in our community,” said Marion County Sheriff Billy Woods. “Many times these are senior citizens. Cyber scams and fraud may never go away but, in Marion County and in Florida, we will come after those who choose to do this. My detectives will keep hunting you down and the Attorney General’s office will continue to aggressively prosecute these thieves. Cyber scammers have no place in Florida except behind a cell door.”
The victims were targeted in a romance-turned-investment scam with victims found in six different Florida counties and as far as Massachusetts. With this assistance from the Marion County Sheriff’s Office, CFEU was able to successfully recover all of the stolen funds, of which $700,000 will returned to Florida victims and $1.3 million will be returned to Massachusetts victims.
One Marion County-based victim, who had a loss of over $450,000, thought the money was gone forever – never even filing a police report—until the Marion County Sheriff’s Office, knocked on his door to let him know his money had been located. The remaining funds that are unable to be returned to victims will be utilized to continue powering CFEU and law enforcement recovery operations.
Attorney General Uthmeier also announced that the CFEU recovered $3.3 million in cryptocurrency during the first fiscal quarter of 2026. This number accounts for 45% of total recoveries made by CFEU since its inception 2.5 years ago.
CFEU has recovered an all-time total of $7.2 million, with another $12.6 million in frozen crypto assets that are in the process of being litigated and returned to victims.
Marion County Sheriff’s Office is responsible for assisting CFEU with recovering $6.5 million so far, the largest of any partnership in the state.
County and municipal law enforcement agencies who wish to assist in Attorney General Uthmeier’s efforts to recover funds for Floridians should contact the Office of Statewide Prosecution Cyber Fraud Enforcement Unit.
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