By: Yuritza Arroyo
A businessman and former resident of Utah has been charged with illegally operating an unlicensed money-transmitting business.
According to federal officials, Christopher James Scanlon, 43, originally from Utah and now residing in the United Kingdom, is charged by complaint with one count of conspiring to control and own an unlicensed money-transmitting business.
Officials say Scanlon was arrested at Miami International Airport today and is expected to have his initial appearance in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida on Friday.
According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court:
Scanlon was the president, chief executive officer, and founder of Aurae Lifestyle and Club Swann. From as early as 2015 through 2019, Scanlon controlled a series of legal entities – PMA Media Group Inc., AU Card LLC; AU Card Ltd., and Nvayo Ltd. (collectively, the “AU Entities”) – that he operated as a money transmitting business to provide fiat and cryptocurrency financial services to customers of Aurae Lifestyle.
Court documents state Scanlon served as a customer service representative for several high-net-worth Aurae Lifestyle customers.
He often communicated with customers about financial transactions using encrypted messaging applications and directed the AU Entities to conduct financial transactions for customers through U.S.-based banks and cryptocurrency companies.
According to authorities, Scanlon operated Aurae Lifestyle during this time without appropriately registering as a money-transmitting business with the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCen), a bureau of the U.S. Treasury Department.
The conspiracy count carries a maximum term of imprisonment of five years, a fine of up to $250,000, or twice the financial gain to the defendant or loss to the victims, whichever is greatest.