DOJ Seizes $400M in Assets from Helix Darknet Cryptocurrency Mixer

TLDR:

• Helix processed 354,468 bitcoin worth approximately $300 million between 2014 and 2017 operations. 
• Larry Harmon pleaded guilty in August 2021 and received 36 months in prison plus asset forfeiture. 
• The mixing service integrated directly with darknet markets through an API for bitcoin withdrawals. 
• Federal authorities traced tens of millions from darknet drug markets through the Helix platform.

The U.S. Department of Justice announced it obtained legal title to over $400 million in assets connected to the Helix darknet mixing service last week.

Operator Larry Dean Harmon received a 36-month prison sentence in November 2024 after pleading guilty to money laundering conspiracy.

The forfeiture includes cryptocurrencies, real estate, and monetary holdings seized from Harmon’s operation.

Helix Processed $300 Million in Darknet Transactions

Helix operated as one of the most prominent cryptocurrency mixing services on the darknet between 2014 and 2017.

The platform blended digital currencies from multiple users through various transactions. This process obscured the original sources, final destinations, and actual owners of the funds.

Court documents reveal that Helix processed approximately 354,468 bitcoin during its operation. The total value equaled roughly $300 million in U.S. dollars at the time of those transactions. Much of this cryptocurrency originated from or was destined for darknet drug markets.

Harmon collected a percentage of each transaction as commission for operating the service. Online drug dealers particularly sought out Helix to launder their illegal proceeds.

The platform’s popularity stemmed from its integration capabilities with major darknet marketplaces.

Judge Beryl A. Howell of the District Court for the District of Columbia issued the final forfeiture order on January 21. Harmon had pleaded guilty in August 2021 and faced additional penalties including three years of supervised release. The court also imposed a forfeiture money judgment alongside the seized property confiscation.

Integration with Darknet Markets Through Advanced Technology

Harmon designed Helix alongside a darknet search engine called Grams to support all major darknet markets. The service featured an Application Program Interface that enabled direct integration with marketplace withdrawal systems. This API allowed darknet platforms to embed Helix functionality seamlessly into their bitcoin operations.

Investigators successfully traced tens of millions of dollars flowing between darknet markets and Helix. The IRS Criminal Investigation Cyber Crimes Unit and FBI Washington Field Office led the investigation.

International cooperation proved essential, with the Attorney General’s Ministry of Belize and Belize Police Department providing critical assistance.

The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs coordinated efforts through U.S. Embassy Belmopan. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Ohio also contributed to the case. Multiple agencies worked together to dismantle the operation and secure the substantial asset forfeiture.

The Computer Crime and Intellectual Property Section has convicted over 180 cybercriminals since 2020. Courts have ordered the return of more than $350 million in victim funds through their prosecutions.

This case represents another milestone in federal efforts to combat cryptocurrency-based money laundering operations.

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