The person at the center of this case
United States Government / International Sanctions Enforcement
Cold Case · Open - Wanted by FBI
4 years waiting · since 2022
CHRISTOPHER DOUGLAS EMMS
Justice for United States Government / International 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 Emms currently located within the UAE or Europe, and what business entities is he operating?
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evidence
Lead #2What cryptocurrency transactions and smart contracts were specifically designed for North Korea, and can they be traced through blockchain analysis?
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contact
Lead #3Who are Emms' associates and family members in the UK and Europe who may have knowledge of his whereabouts or ongoing activities?
Christopher Douglas Emms, a cryptocurrency businessman, is wanted for conspiring to violate U.S. sanctions on North Korea by organizing and facilitating the 2019 Pyongyang Blockchain and Cryptocurrency Conference, where he and a recruited American expert provided technology services to the DPRK. The conspiracy involved detailed instruction on cryptocurrency transactions designed to evade sanctions, including creating smart contracts and diagramming transaction methods for North Korean government officials. Emms remains at large, believed to be residing in the United Arab Emirates with known connections throughout Europe, Malta, and Gibraltar, making his apprehension critical to enforcing international sanctions enforcement.
Case
#947
Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) / United States 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.
💡
clue
Lead #4What role did co-conspirator Alejandro Cao de Benós play, and is he still in contact with Emms?
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: Christopher Douglas Emms 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, Emms, a cryptocurrency businessman, planned and organized the “Pyongyang Blockchain and Cryptocurrency Conference” for the benefit of the DPRK. Emms 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.
Emms and the expert allegedly answered specific questions about blockchain and cryptocurrency technologies for the DPRK audience, including individuals whom they understood worked for the North Korean government, proposed plans to create specialized “smart contracts” to serve the DPRK’s unique interests, and mapped out cryptocurrency transactions designed to evade and avoid United States sanctions, including by diagramming such transactions on a whiteboard for the North Korean audience. Emms allegedly took steps in an effort to conceal their activity, 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. At no time did Emms, or co-conspirator Alejandro Cao de Benós , 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 Emms 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: Emms is known to reside in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and was known to be in Saudi Arabia in or about March of 2022.
He has family residing in the United Kingdom. Emms has been known to establish various business interests in multiple countries to include UAE, Malta, Gibraltar, and throughout Europe.
Timeline of Events
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2018-01-01
Conspiracy Planning Begins
Emms begins planning and organizing the Pyongyang Blockchain and Cryptocurrency Conference in early 2018
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2019-04-01
Conference Execution
Emms arranges travel for American cryptocurrency expert to DPRK to provide services at the conference, including technology instruction and sanctions evasion strategies
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2019-11-01
Co-Conspirator Arrested
American cryptocurrency expert arrested by U.S. authorities, disrupting the conspiracy scheme
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2022-01-27
Federal Arrest Warrant Issued
Federal arrest warrant issued for Emms 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:May 12, 2026
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Case Information
Incident:January 1, 2018
Last Updated:May 12, 2026