The person at the center of this case
United States Government / OFAC Sanctions Enforcement
Cold Case · Open
4 years waiting · since 2022
ALEJANDRO CAO DE BENOS
Justice for United States Government / OFAC Sanctions Enforcement — the trail went cold in 2022, but the truth hasn't.
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Key leads to think about
🎯
suspect
Lead #1Where is Cao de Benós currently located within Spain or elsewhere?
📞
contact
Lead #2What communications exist between Cao de Benós and North Korean government officials regarding the conferences?
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evidence
Lead #3What cryptocurrency transactions or blockchain technology transfers occurred as part of this conspiracy?
Alejandro Cao de Benós, founder of the Korean Friendship Association, is wanted for allegedly conspiring to violate U.S. sanctions on North Korea by organizing cryptocurrency and blockchain conferences and recruiting an American expert to provide illegal technology services to the DPRK. The scheme involved coordinating with North Korean government officials and attempting to conceal the activities from U.S. authorities, though a co-conspirator was arrested in November 2019 before a second conference could occur. Cao de Benós remains at large, believed to be living in Spain, and investigators seek information about his current whereabouts and any ongoing sanctions violations.
Case
#539
Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI); U.S. District Court, Southern District of New York
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More leads to consider
Beyond the top three above — each detail below could be the thread that pulls this case open.
👤
person
Lead #4Are there other American citizens or technology experts who may have been recruited for similar DPRK sanctions violations?
💡
clue
Lead #5Did Cao de Benós attempt to organize additional conferences or technology transfers after 2020?
Have information about any of these leads?
Even the smallest detail could be the key to solving this case.
Official wording
Source Narrative
Conspiracy to Violate the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) Caution: Alejandro Cao de Benós is wanted for allegedly conspiring to violate the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA). Specifically, conspiring to violate United States sanctions on the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (“DPRK” or “North Korea”) by working with an American citizen to illegally provide cryptocurrency and blockchain technology services to the DPRK.
Beginning in or about early 2018, Cao de Benós, the founder of the “Korean Friendship Association,” a pro-DPRK affinity organization, organized the “Pyongyang Blockchain and Cryptocurrency Conference” for the benefit of the DPRK. Cao de Benós allegedly recruited an American cryptocurrency expert to provide services to the DPRK at the Conference and arranged his travel to the DPRK in April of 2019 for this purpose, in violation of United States sanctions.
Cao de Benós allegedly coordinated approval from the DPRK government for the expert's participation in the Conference and continued to conspire afterwards to include holding a second cryptocurrency conference in the DPRK in 2020. Cao de Benós allegedly took steps in an effort to conceal these activities, and the expert's role in the conspiracy, from United States authorities.
The expert was arrested by United States authorities in November of 2019, disrupting the scheme and the second conference planned for 2020. At no time did Cao de Benós, or co-conspirator Christopher Douglas Emms , obtain permission from the Department of the Treasury, Office of Foreign Assets Control (“OFAC”), to provide goods, services, or technology to the DPRK, as is required by law.
A federal arrest warrant was issued for Cao de Benós in the United States District Court, Southern District of New York, New York, New York, on January 27, 2022, after he was charged with Conspiracy to Violate the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA). Remarks: Alejandro Cao de Benós is known to live in Spain.
Timeline of Events
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2018
Conspiracy begins
Cao de Benós organizes the Pyongyang Blockchain and Cryptocurrency Conference for the benefit of the DPRK
📍
2019-04
American expert travels to DPRK
Recruited cryptocurrency expert travels to North Korea to provide services at the conference in violation of U.S. sanctions
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2019-11
Co-conspirator arrested
American cryptocurrency expert arrested by U.S. authorities, disrupting the scheme and planned 2020 conference
🕵️
2022-01-27
Federal arrest warrant issued
Warrant issued in U.S. District Court, Southern District of New York for Conspiracy to Violate IEEPA
Key Locations
Interactive map showing important locations related to this case
Case Information
Incident:January 1, 2018
Last Updated:October 29, 2026
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Case Information
Incident:January 1, 2018
Last Updated:October 29, 2026