In a recent update to the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s (FBI) “Ten Most Wanted Fugitives” list, the State Department’s Transnational Organized Crime Rewards Program announced it is now offering a $5 million reward for information that leads to Ignatova’s arrest and conviction. Ignatova’s last verified location was in Athens, Greece, in October 2017.
Ignatova was added to the FBI's top ten list in June 2022, with an initial reward of $100,000. This amount was increased to $250,000 in 2023, but she remains at large. The FBI has noted that Ignatova holds a German passport and may have altered her appearance, potentially through plastic surgery.
Source: FBI
In 2017, U.S. authorities charged Ignatova with fraud and money laundering, issuing a federal warrant for her arrest. On June 26, Bulgaria’s Acting Prosecutor General Borislav Sarafov, alongside U.S. Ambassador to Bulgaria Kenneth Merten, announced that Ignatova would be charged in absentia in Bulgaria.
Background on OneCoin
OneCoin, founded in 2014, was revealed as a fraudulent cryptocurrency scheme in 2015, defrauding investors of approximately $4 billion. Several individuals associated with the scheme have faced criminal prosecution in the U.S., including:
Gilbert Armenta, Ignatova’s boyfriend
Mark Scott, a lawyer
Irina Dilkinska, former head of legal and compliance
Karl Sebastian Greenwood, co-founder
William Morro
Ignatova’s brother, Konstantin Ignatov, pleaded guilty to fraud and money laundering charges in 2019 related to his involvement in OneCoin. He served 34 months in prison before being released in March 2024.
Seeking Justice
The State Department’s increased reward highlights the ongoing international effort to bring Ignatova to justice. The collaboration between U.S. and Bulgarian authorities underscores the seriousness of the charges and the commitment to holding those responsible for financial crimes accountable.
If you have any information about Ruja Ignatova's whereabouts, contact the FBI or the State Department’s Transnational Organized Crime Rewards Program. Your assistance could be crucial in resolving one of the largest cryptocurrency fraud cases in history.
