Spanish Man Faces 20 Years for Allegedly Helping North Korea Evade Sanctions
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A Spanish man, Alejandro Cao de Benós, faces 20 years in prison for allegedly helping North Korea evade US sanctions using cryptocurrency. He was arrested in Spain after a US warrant.
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Cao de Benós denies the allegations, but has long worked to promote North Korea. In 2015, he said he wanted to help create a "paradise society" there.
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As head of the Korean Friendship Association, Cao de Benós held conferences and promoted North Korea's culture and history globally.
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US authorities allege Cao de Benós recruited American Virgil Griffith to provide cryptocurrency services to North Korea to evade sanctions, which Griffith pled guilty to.
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In an interview, Cao de Benós said his role was limited to authorizing Griffith's visa, denying recruiting him. He claims political persecution due to his North Korea friendship work.