Anton and James Peraire-Bueno are asking a Manhattan court to stop prosecutors from using their Google search activity in an upcoming trial.
In a motion filed on August 22, they said the queries were made while speaking with lawyers and should not be treated as evidence of intent. Among the searches highlighted are phrases like “top crypto lawyers” and “wire fraud statute of limitations”.
The dispute leaves Judge Jessica G.L. Clarke to decide whether these searches represent signs of guilt or if they were simply part of getting legal guidance after investigators became involved.
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The case dates back to April 2023, when the brothers allegedly exploited Ethereum’s
The following year, prosecutors charged them with conspiracy, wire fraud, and money laundering. Each charge carries a maximum sentence of 20 years.
According to filings, the two began looking for legal help after being “threatened by anonymous sandwich attackers”, who demanded the return of the money. Their lawyers argued that privilege logs show a direct overlap between searches and attorney communications.
Defense attorneys argued that prosecutors cannot prove the searches relate directly to the alleged theft. They also pointed out that no witnesses can explain the context. The brothers said:
The contents of the searches themselves do not show that.
Recently, Thai police detained a 33-year-old South Korean man suspected of converting cryptocurrencies into gold for a call center network. How did the case unfold? Read the full story.
