The person at the center of this case
United States (sanctions enforcement)
Cold Case · Open - Wanted by FBI
4 years waiting · since 2022
CHRISTOPHER DOUGLAS EMMS
Justice for United States (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 Christopher Douglas Emms currently located and what business interests is he actively managing across UAE, Malta, Gibraltar, and Europe?
🔍
evidence
Lead #2What specific cryptocurrency transaction methods and smart contracts were discussed and diagrammed for North Korean officials to evade U.S. sanctions?
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contact
Lead #3Who are Emms's known associates and business partners in the cryptocurrency and blockchain sectors who may have facilitated his international operations?
Christopher Douglas Emms, a cryptocurrency businessman, is wanted for allegedly conspiring to violate U.S. sanctions on North Korea by organizing and facilitating the 2019 Pyongyang Blockchain and Cryptocurrency Conference, where he and a co-conspirator provided blockchain and cryptocurrency technology services to North Korean government officials. The scheme involved detailed technical instruction on creating cryptocurrency transactions designed to evade U.S. sanctions, with Emms taking deliberate steps to conceal the conspiracy from authorities. Emms remains at large, believed to be residing in the United Arab Emirates with known connections across Europe, the Middle East, and the United Kingdom, making his apprehension crucial to enforcing international sanctions compliance.
Case
#947
Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and 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 are the details of Emms's family connections in the United Kingdom and do they maintain contact or provide support?
💡
clue
Lead #5What financial records, communications, and blockchain transactions exist that document the conspiracy and Emms's efforts to conceal the scheme?
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 begins
Emms begins planning and organizing the Pyongyang Blockchain and Cryptocurrency Conference for the benefit of the DPRK
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2019-04-01
Conference and technical services provided
Emms arranges travel for American cryptocurrency expert to DPRK; both provide blockchain and cryptocurrency technology services to North Korean government officials at the conference
🔍
2019-11-01
Co-conspirator arrested
American cryptocurrency expert arrested by U.S. authorities, disrupting the sanctions evasion scheme
🕵️
2022-01-27
Federal arrest warrant issued
Emms charged with Conspiracy to Violate the International Emergency Economic Powers Act in U.S. District Court, Southern District of New York
Key Locations
Interactive map showing important locations related to this case
Case Information
Incident:January 1, 2018
Last Updated:September 12, 2026
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Case Information
Incident:January 1, 2018
Last Updated:September 12, 2026