In a shocking case that highlights the darker side of cryptocurrency, a Nevada woman has recently been sentenced to five years in prison for her involvement in a murder-for-hire plot. Kristy Lynn Felkins confessed to using Bitcoin on the dark web to hire a hitman to kill her ex-husband, with hopes of claiming a substantial life insurance payout.

Kristy Lynn Felkins, a 38-year-old resident of Fallon, Nevada, resorted to Bitcoin to pay $5,000 in 2016 to orchestrate the murder of her ex-husband. With the intention of reaping the benefits from his retirement, acquiring their shared house, and securing a large life insurance payout, Felkins sought a hitman to carry out the sinister act. She even offered an additional $4,000 to hasten the timeline of the murder.

Court documents have revealed that Felkins sought the services of a hitman-for-hire through a dark web platform known as Besa Mafia. This site allows users to anonymously hire individuals to carry out illegal activities, including murder, using Bitcoin as a payment method.

Felkins stipulated that the murder should be disguised as a mugging gone wrong, showing a complete disregard for the potential harm that could befall her former husband’s new girlfriend. Fortunately, the Besa Mafia website turned out to be a scam, and no actual hitman existed.

Though details regarding law enforcement’s involvement in the case remain undisclosed, Felkins reached a guilty plea agreement with federal prosecutors in March to avoid a trial. Had she been found guilty in court, she faced a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison. As part of her agreement, Felkins has been ordered to surrender in September to begin her five-year prison sentence. Upon her release, she will be subject to three years of mandatory supervision.

While cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin offer individuals more financial freedom and privacy, their decentralized nature also creates opportunities for illicit activities. Numerous cases have surfaced in recent years of individuals using Bitcoin to hire hitmen on the dark web. It remains unclear, however, how many of these dark web hitmen are genuine and how many are simply scammers seeking to collect Bitcoin payments.

A similar case earlier this year involved a US doctor who was caught attempting to hire hitmen on the dark web to harm his wife and a former colleague. Dr. Ronald Craig Ilg was sentenced to eight years in prison and ordered to pay hefty fines for his involvement, underscoring the potential dangers associated with misusing cryptocurrencies.

Disclaimer: The information provided in this research report is for informational purposes only and should not be interpreted as financial or investment advice. The NFT and cryptocurrency market is highly volatile, and readers should conduct thorough research before making any investment decisions.