Queensland Man Loses 25 Bitcoin, Waterfront Mansion and Mercedes in AFP Asset Forfeiture

The AFP’s CACT seized 25 BTC, a waterfront home, and a Mercedes-Benz —worth AU$4.5M— from Shane Duffy, linking the assets to cybercrime proceeds dating back to 2018.
Duffy, previously convicted of fraud and hacking tied to League of Legends data, was flagged by Luxembourg crypto watchdogs, triggering the investigation.
While no new criminal charges were laid, a Queensland court ordered full forfeiture under civil asset laws, allowing the AFP to confiscate the property without a conviction.

The AFP-led Criminal Asset Confiscation Taskforce (CACT) confiscated 25 BTC, a waterfront mansion, and a Mercedes-Benz worth AU$4.5M in a probe dating to 2018, triggered by Luxembourg crypto intel and linked to a convicted US gaming firm hacker.

The Australian Federal Police confirmed on May 18 that the property was seized under the Proceeds of Crime Act, following a ruling in April by the District Court of Queensland. The investigation dates back to 2018, when Luxembourg authorities tipped off AUSTRAC about suspicious Bitcoin movements tied to a man previously convicted of cyber offenses.

The individual is identified as Shane Stephen Duffy, who has a track record in cybercrime, it seems.

Related: Avenir Group HODLs $691 Million to Become Asia’s Top Bitcoin ETF Holder

*Duffy after pleading guilty to fraud and computer hacking. Source: Pam Frost*

In 2016, Duffy pleaded guilty to fraud and hacking-related charges after selling data from League of Legends players. Prosecutors said he obtained the stolen user information from a 2011 breach of Riot Games (though he wasn’t involved in the hack itself).

Duffy is quite active when it comes to crime. He was also accused of hijacking the X account of Riot Games president Marc Merrill to promote a data-selling service offering access to player accounts.

The Money Will be Reinvested into the Community, Says AFP Commander

In July 2023, the CACT secured restraining orders on 24.99 Bitcoin, a 2019 Mercedes-Benz, and a waterfront home in Beachmere.

The agency argued the holdings were not consistent with any legitimate source of income. Fast-forward today, a court agreed with that statement and ordered the full forfeiture. Surprisingly, no criminal charges were laid, but under Australia’s proceeds of crime, the laws allow the government to confiscate assets without a conviction, using a civil standard of proof.

Commander Jason Kennedy of the AFP said the legislation gives law enforcement powerful tools to disrupt financial networks tied to cybercrime:

The Proceeds of Crime Act provides law enforcement agencies with unique powers to restrain and forfeit instruments and proceeds of crime. The profits derived from criminal activities are also often used to fund further criminal acts, which is why the AFP works closely with our partners in the CACT to target the proceeds of crime and ensure they are reinvested in the community.