Spanish justice approves extradition of antivirus maker McAfee to US

Spanish justice authorized the extradition to the United States of John McAfee, the creator of the famed antivirus, which bears his surname, for an alleged tax offense, according to a car release this Wednesday.

McAfee, a businessman who has devoted himself to trading cryptocurrencies in recent years, was arrested at Barcelona airport in October, and held in preventive prison for resolving an extradition request.

The decision of the Spanish National Court, dated June 21 and issued this Wednesday, can still be appealed and must eventually be approved by the Spanish government.

North American officials requesting extradition allege that 75-year-old McAfee earned more than ten million dollars between 2014 and 2018, selling cryptocurrencies, consulting services, conferences and the rights to make a documentary about his lifetime. Thank you.

However, according to the order of the National Court, a high court in Madrid, “he did not file tax returns during any of those years and did not pay any of his tax obligations.”

“In order to conceal his income and assets,” the defendant ordered “to pay part of his income to the men up front and to put the property in his name,” citing the U.S. Tax Administration’s arguments, that the businessman’s debts Guesses, adds orders. on $4.2 million before penalties and interest.

The National High Court agreed to extradition for an alleged tax offense in 2016, 2017 and 2018. If he was handed over and tried, he would face a prison sentence of up to 30 years.

McAfee made his fortune in the 1980s with his eponymous antivirus, which still bears his name.

In recent years, he has become a guru in the crypto world, and he even claims that he makes $2,000 a day with them. He has more than a million followers on his Twitter account.

In connection with this business, the businessman was indicted in March by a United States justice, in a separate case, for allegedly using inside information and profiting from it in the sale of cryptocurrencies.

In a tweet posted to his account on June 16, McAfee wrote that US officials believe he has a “hidden cryptocurrency.”

“I would like to have them,” but “the rest of my possessions have all been confiscated. My friends languish in fear of being associated with me. I have nothing. And I have no regrets.”

avl-tpe/du/mb