Unlike many people charged with crypto-related crimes, Heather Morgan has a very active social media presence.
The cryptocurrency world is abuzz over news that the Department of Justice has seized billions of dollars worth of Bitcoin stolen in the 2016 Bitfinex hack, and over the news of 31-year-old New York woman Heather Morgan being arrested in the case.
According to the FBI, Heather Morgan and her husband Ilya Lichtenstein conspired to launder the proceeds of the hack and spent the proceeds on gold, NFTs, and other items.
While crypto criminals are expected to keep a low profile, especially those who made billions in Bitcoin, that is not the case with this alleged culprit.
Morgan’s aspirations to be a rapper, writer, and influencer have left a long trail of photos and videos on social media, including these from TikTok:
🥴 https://t.co/1eOVCpg31j pic.twitter.com/iNHuK3tzJ6
— Will Gottsegen (@lil_smush) February 8, 2022
Morgan, whose lyrics in the video above include “yeah that was corny/at least I’m not frumpy,” also has a website dedicated to her rapper alter-ego called “Razzlekhan.” Her website explains that “Much like her intrepid entrepreneurial spirit and her hacker mentality, Razz unashamedly explores the new frontiers of art.”
Morgan’s LinkedIn profile, meanwhile, describes her as a “serial entrepreneur, SaaS investor, and surrealist.” She notes that she earned a bachelor’s degree in economics from UC Davis, and lists her skills as “Inside Sales” and “Email Marketing.”
Morgan has also tried her hand as a journalist, publishing articles for Inc and as a contributor to Forbes, where she has written on everything from soul food to influencer strategies to, ironically, how to ” protect your business of cyber criminals”.
Her Instagram account, meanwhile, is a lively collection of photos showcasing her life in New York City, including one with her alleged partner in crime, Lichtenstein.
Morgan’s lively social life also included giving talks at New York lounge nights, including one titled “How to Social Engineer Your Way Into Anything” (including, perhaps, the world of cryptocurrencies).
Of course, the Justice Department has yet to prove its allegations in court that Morgan laundered $4.5 billion worth of Bitcoin stolen from Bitfinex in 2016.
If Morgan is indeed guilty as charged, her lifestyle will be turned upside down. According to the Justice Department, she and Lichtenstein face a maximum sentence of 20 years in federal prison on the money laundering charge, plus another five for conspiring to defraud the US government.