Jody Godoy

(Reuters) – A former researcher for a well-known cryptocurrency group was sentenced Tuesday to three years and five months prison terms. He had conspired to help North Korea evade U.S. sanctions through cryptocurrency. Federal prosecutors from Manhattan stated.

Virgil Griffith, who was detained in 2019, pleaded guilty to violating the International Emergency Economic Powers Act when he traveled to North Korea for a presentation on blockchain technology.

Griffith worked previously for the Foundation. The Foundation is a non profit that supports technology behind crypto ether.

U.S. district Judge Kevin Castel sentenced Griffith to the minimum time in prison that was requested by prosecutors. Griffith asked for two-year sentences. Castel also gave Griffith a $100,000 fine, less than the $1million suggested by prosecutors.

Brian Klein, Griffith’s attorney, said that the sentence was disappointed but that the judge had acknowledged Virgil’s willingness to continue with his life in a productive manner and that Virgil has a great deal to offer.

U.S. attorney Damian Williams released a statement Tuesday stating that “justice was served.”

Griffith received his doctorate in technology from California Institute of Technology. He traveled through China and North Korea to present at the Pyongyang Blockchain and Cryptocurrency Summit, even though he was denied permission by U.S. Department of State.

Prosecutors claimed Griffith knew that the information could be used by the U.S. to avoid sanctions imposed against North Korea for its nuclear weapon technology development.

Blockchains are transparent. Griffith stated that the DPRK cannot be excluded no matter what the USA and the UN say,” Griffith claimed during Griffith’s presentation. Griffith used the initials of North Korea’s official name to make his point.

Griffith was detained by The Ethereum Foundation at the time. It stated that Griffith had been denied permission or support for his trip to North Korea.