Bitcoin scam linked to $160K fraud in New Zealand murder case
A New Zealand woman faces murder charges after allegedly using fake cryptocurrency profits to defraud her elderly mother of thousands before her death.
Julia DeLuney is accused of killing her 79-year-old mother, Helen Gregory, at their home in Khandallah on January 24, 2024.
Prosecutors allege DeLuney staged the scene to suggest Gregory fell from an attic, but forensic reports found head trauma inconsistent with a fall.
Court documents reveal DeLuney had been stealing from Gregory for months, funding crypto trades with family money while suffering losses exceeding $40,000 USD in 2023.
Financial records show over $90,000 NZD was transferred to crypto platforms, including $26,000 NZD from her mother.
Two days before the death, DeLuney emailed Gregory claiming a crypto investment yielded more than $160,000 USD in profits.
She requested $18,000 USD for withdrawal fees and tax liability, which an expert later described as “totally false” and part of a scam.
Gregory deposited $3,600 NZD cash into DeLuney’s account and withdrew $5,400 NZD from her retirement fund shortly before her death.
Blockchain forensics by Chainalysis helped trace the fraudulent crypto activity, countering misconceptions about crypto anonymity.
“Unlike traditional financial investigations, where evidence is often siloed across different institutions, the blockchain offers a single, authoritative, transparent, and immutable ledger.” the company said.
During police interviews, DeLuney claimed she left the house to seek help but inconsistencies in blood evidence challenged her account.
While DeLuney maintains her innocence, her defence contends police focused disproportionately on her.
Disclaimer: The content of this article solely reflects the author's opinion and does not represent the platform in any capacity. This article is not intended to serve as a reference for making investment decisions.
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