US Court Frees Former Monero Developer Riccardo Spagni

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A US court has released former lead Monero developer Riccardo “Fluffypony” Spagni from arrest. He said on Twitter:

“I am very pleased that the U.S. court has released me. I am actively working with my attorneys on a way to return to South Africa as soon as possible so I can address this matter and get it behind me once and for all. That’s what I’ve always wanted to do.”

We should remember that law enforcement agencies detained Spagni on July 21 at the Nashville airport at the request of the South African authorities, who accused him of $100,000 fraud. The case is not connected with Monero, but with his work in the South African company Cape Cookies in 2009-2011.

Spagni faces up to 20 years in prison. The South African authorities had to submit documents to the United States to consider extradition before September 19, 2021.

Lawyer Duncan Oaks called Spagni’s detention unreasonable. He claims that the developer mistakenly believed the presence of his representative was sufficient in the Cape Cookies case.

The court refused in late August to release Spagni on bail due to the risk of escape.