The person at the center of this case
United States Government / Sanctions Enforcement
Cold Case · Open - Wanted
4 years waiting · since 2022
CHRISTOPHER DOUGLAS EMMS
Justice for United States Government / Sanctions Enforcement — the trail went cold in 2022, but the truth hasn't.
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Key leads to think about
🎯
suspect
Lead #1Why did Emms establish business interests across multiple countries (UAE, Malta, Gibraltar, Europe) and how do these operations connect to sanctions evasion?
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evidence
Lead #2What specific cryptocurrency transaction methods and smart contracts were discussed at the Pyongyang conference, and are similar schemes still in operation?
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contact
Lead #3Who are the North Korean government officials that attended the conference and received the technology briefing?
Christopher Douglas Emms, a cryptocurrency businessman, is wanted for allegedly conspiring to violate U.S. sanctions on North Korea by organizing a 2019 blockchain conference in Pyongyang and providing technology services to the regime. Working with an American cryptocurrency expert, Emms allegedly helped design systems to evade sanctions, including mapping cryptocurrency transactions on whiteboards for North Korean officials. He remains at large, believed to be residing in the United Arab Emirates with known connections throughout Europe, the Middle East, and the United Kingdom.
Case
#947
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.
📍
location
Lead #4What is Emms's current location and operational base in the UAE, and which European countries is he known to frequent?
👤
person
Lead #5Who is co-conspirator Alejandro Cao de Benós and what role did he play in organizing the conference and sanctions violations?
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
Conspiracy Planning Begins
Emms begins planning and organizing the Pyongyang Blockchain and Cryptocurrency Conference for the benefit of the DPRK
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2019-04
American Expert Travel to DPRK
Emms arranges travel for American cryptocurrency expert to Pyongyang to provide services at the conference
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2019-11
Expert Arrested
The American cryptocurrency expert is 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, charged with Conspiracy to Violate IEEPA
Key Locations
Interactive map showing important locations related to this case
Case Information
Incident:January 1, 2018
Last Updated:October 30, 2026
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Case Information
Incident:January 1, 2018
Last Updated:October 30, 2026