By stealing an encrypted key, he allegedly stole millions of dollars in virtual money: Montreal police arrested an alleged cryptocurrency thief this week. After being on the run in Europe, the man now faces justice.
Investigators from the southern region of the Montreal City Police Service (SPVM) got their hands on Djuliano Jovanovic. The accused was on the run until now. He allegedly participated in a major cryptocurrency theft that occurred three years ago.
The 37-year-old man was in detention in France, a country from which he was extradited at the request of Canada, the police force said in a press release.
With the help of two accomplices, he allegedly put together a complex scheme allowing him to steal an encrypted key containing cryptocurrencies. The value of the virtual money it contained was estimated, at the time of the events, at several million dollars.
The trio allegedly met their victims, two American citizens, in hotels in downtown Montreal in January 2020 to seize the loot. The victims filed a complaint with the SPVM shortly after, allowing an investigation team to nab the three suspects on the following February 12.
A long run in Europe
The three men appeared at the Montreal courthouse the day after their arrest.
Jovanovic was released on condition that he wear a GPS bracelet allowing authorities to locate him. A few days later, he got rid of this tool before fleeing.
The alleged bandit first went to the United States, from where he took a plane to Romania. His run, however, ended in France, where his flight made a stopover. The French authorities had received his report thanks to an international wanted notice launched by the SPVM.
Jovanovic was first sent back to Italy, where he also faced criminal charges. During the legal proceedings in this country, the alleged thief once again managed to flee. Targeted by an Interpol red notice, he was however apprehended once again in 2022, while trying to enter French territory.
Djuliano Jovanovic appears today at the Montreal courthouse to answer charges of theft, fraud, receiving stolen property, identity theft and laundering the proceeds of crime.