US Seizes $400M From Helix Darknet Crypto Mixer Operator

The U.S. government has secured legal ownership of more than $400 million in assets tied to the darknet cryptocurrency mixing service Helix. Judge Beryl A. Howell of the District Court for the District of Columbia entered a final forfeiture order on January 21, formally transferring the seized cryptocurrencies, real estate, and monetary assets to federal authorities.

The U.S. Department of Justice announced that last week it obtained legal title to over $400 million in cryptocurrencies, real estate, and monetary assets related to the darknet mixing service Helix. Operator Larry Dean Harmon pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit money…

— Wu Blockchain (@WuBlockchain) January 30, 2026

Larry Dean Harmon, 41, of Akron, Ohio, operated Helix from 2014 to 2017. The mixing service processed approximately 354,468 bitcoin during its operation. At the time of transactions, this amount equaled roughly $311 million in U.S. dollars.

Harmon pleaded guilty in August 2021 to conspiracy to commit money laundering. In November 2024, he received a 36-month prison sentence alongside three years of supervised release. The court also imposed a forfeiture money judgment exceeding $311 million.

The seizure represents one of the largest cryptocurrency forfeitures in U.S. law enforcement history. Multiple federal agencies coordinated to bring the case to its conclusion after years of investigation.

Inside the Helix Money Laundering Operation

Helix functioned by blending cryptocurrency from multiple users and routing funds through complex transaction chains. This process obscured the sources, destinations, and owners of the digital assets moving through the platform.

Court documents reveal Helix ranked among the most popular mixing services on the darknet. Online drug dealers particularly sought the service to launder their illicit profits from illegal marketplace sales.

Harmon also operated Grams, a darknet search engine connected to Helix. He designed both platforms to integrate with all major darknet markets operating at the time.

The operator developed an Application Program Interface allowing darknet markets to embed Helix directly into their bitcoin withdrawal systems. Harmon customized features to ensure seamless compatibility with significant illegal marketplaces.

Investigators successfully traced tens of millions of dollars flowing from darknet markets into Helix. Much of the cryptocurrency processed through the service originated from or was destined for drug trafficking operations.

Harmon collected commissions and fees from each transaction processed through his platform. These payments formed his primary income from the money laundering conspiracy.

Multi-Agency Investigation Spans International Borders

The IRS Criminal Investigation Cyber Crimes Unit and FBI Washington Field Office led the investigation. The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs provided critical support throughout the multi-year probe.

International cooperation proved essential to building the case. The Attorney General’s Ministry of Belize and Belize Police Department delivered crucial assistance, coordinated through U.S. Embassy Belmopan.

The Financial Crimes Enforcement Network assessed a $60 million civil monetary penalty against Harmon in a parallel enforcement action. This penalty came separately from the criminal forfeiture proceedings.

The Computer Crime and Intellectual Property Section has secured convictions of over 180 cybercriminals since 2020. The unit has also obtained court orders returning more than $350 million to victims of cyber-enabled crimes.

Meanwhile, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Ohio provided valuable assistance given Harmon’s Ohio residency. The case demonstrates the extensive coordination required to prosecute complex cryptocurrency crimes.

Following the final forfeiture order, the seized assets will be processed according to federal asset forfeiture procedures. The government can now liquidate or retain the cryptocurrencies, real estate, and monetary instruments previously held by Harmon.