In 2020, anti-virus tycoon and billionaire John McAfee was imprisoned in Spain on charges of fake ICOs. Some time later he was found dead in his cell. Much about the case remains unclear. But now the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has taken on McAfee’s partner Jimmy Watson. He has been banned from participating in crypto projects. He will also pay a fine of $375,000.
The gist of the charges
Jimmy Watson Jr. helped the late McAfee promote ICOs on social media. He also sold tokens from scam projects and made a decent profit for doing so. According to the judge, McAfee and Watson were fully aware that they were engaged in a pump-and-dump scheme.
Under the court order, Watson receives a lifetime ban on direct or indirect investing in cryptocurrencies and blockchain technology. That means he can never own a company in that industry or partner with such firms for a fee. But he is allowed to engage in personal investments.
Investigation into the death of a crypto genius
Prosecutors said McAfee made at least $23 million from the pump-and-dump projects, but family and friends of the deceased question whether he committed suicide.
McAfee himself once said that if he “committed suicide” it would be a special operation of the U.S. government. He even had a tattoo on his body with such text.