Federal cryptocurrency cases are a different kind of federal case. They turn on statutes that were not written for digital assets — money transmission laws, the Bank Secrecy Act, federal securities laws, sanctions regimes, wire fraud, and tax reporting obligations — applied to wallet architectures, smart contracts, and on-chain transactions that did not exist a decade ago. The Department of Justice has invested heavily in prosecuting these cases. So have the SEC, CFTC, FinCEN, OFAC, and the IRS, each pursuing federal crypto matters under their own authorities. If you or your company is the subject of a federal crypto investigation, target letter, grand jury subpoena, or enforcement inquiry, you need counsel who understand both sides of how these cases get built.
Zerillo Law Firm has built a dedicated federal crypto defense practice around exactly that combination — a former federal prosecutor with twenty-five years inside the Department of Justice and a career criminal defense attorney with over twenty-five years defending complex federal matters. Together, they have over fifty years of combined federal criminal experience and have handled federal matters across multiple districts, including one of the first successful federal prosecutions of an unlicensed Bitcoin money services business.
Request a confidential consultation by contacting us online or calling (207) 618-6555.
Types of Federal Cryptocurrency Cases
Federal crypto matters take many forms. The firm represents principals, executives, and companies in matters involving:
Operating an unlicensed money transmitting business
Bank Secrecy Act and FinCEN compliance failures
OFAC and sanctions violations involving digital assets
Securities law exposure under the SEC-CFTC March 17, 2026 framework
Wire fraud involving cryptocurrency transactions or representations
Money laundering using digital assets
Federal tax reporting obligations for digital assets
DOJ, SEC, and CFTC enforcement matters
IRS criminal investigations involving digital assets
John Doe summons compliance and response
The firm represents both individuals (executives, principals, traders, developers, and others under federal investigation) and companies (exchanges, custodians, infrastructure providers, and other businesses operating in the digital asset space facing regulatory or criminal scrutiny).
A Dedicated Federal Crypto Defense Site
The firm operates a dedicated federal crypto defense practice site at cryptocriminaldefense.com, which provides additional information about the practice, including the firm’s Federal Enforcement Readiness Review for crypto companies, consulting and expert services for defense teams, and answers to frequently asked questions. The firm also publishes federal crypto enforcement analysis at cryptodefensewatch.com.
If you are facing a federal crypto investigation or enforcement matter, contact us at (207) 618-6555 for a confidential consultation.
“Tim did a superb job putting me at ease while preparing my case.”
“He was consistently patient and accommodating with my frequent requests and questions, and responded promptly every time. I highly encourage you to contact him if you’re ever in need of a lawyer.”
