In a recent turn of events, Iris Ramaya Au, former girlfriend of a man once hailed as a cryptocurrency 'Godfather,' has conceded to a plea of guilt on a federal criminal tax charge. As reported by the U.S. Department of Justice, the charge stems from Au's failure to report over $2.6 million in income that was obtained through illegal activities pursued by her then-partner, who earned himself notoriety and the self-bestowed title "The Godfather."
Based in Irvine, 35-year old Au faces a single-count information for subscribing to a false tax return. She is anticipated to soon appear in the United States District Court in downtown Los Angeles to officially enter her guilty plea. The plea agreement, carefully detailed, reveals that from 2020 to 2024, Au was complicit in the execution of crimes which included the fraudulent acquisition of advertising accounts and lines of credit. These crimes were primarily enabled through companies like Facebook Inc. and Meta Platforms Inc., as she helped her companion to illicitly milk millions of dollars from these swindles.
In a scheme twist, it is described how Au at the behest of the 'Godfather' created shell corporations and opened multiple bank accounts under their guise. These accounts served as vessels for the laundered cash and were used to lavishly spend on real estate, luxury automobiles, opulent jewelry, and clothing. They also financed recreational escapades estimated to be valued at nearly $10 million and aided in acquiring roughly $16 million in cryptocurrency. Au has admitted in her plea that she transferred in excess of $2.6 million to her personal banking over the course of roughly three years, a figure she willfully omitted from her filed federal tax returns.
The actions of Au have potentially paved her path to a three-year federal prison sentence following her plea. Meanwhile, the 'Godfather' himself, known only as Iza in court documents, pled guilty earlier to a suite of charges, including conspiracy against rights, wire fraud, and tax evasion. According to the justice department statement, he is scheduled for sentencing on June 16, facing a possible 35-year stint in federal prison. Having been in custody since September 2024, the weight of his crimes has begun to catch up with him, even as federal agents continue to unravel the full extent of his illicit financial web.
The investigation into this matter remains ongoing, spearheaded by both the IRS Criminal Investigation and the FBI. Assistant United States Attorneys Daniel J. O'Brien and J. Jamari Buxton of the Public Corruption and Civil Rights Section, along with Assistant United States Attorney Maxwell K. Coll of the Cyber and Intellectual Property Crimes Section, are handling the prosecution. For more detailed information, Public Information Officer Ciaran McEvoy is the point of contact at the justice department.
