US Court Orders Asset Freeze in $2.4M Crypto Scam Involving TrustHFTwallet
On Thursday, May 29, 2025, Judge Michael J. Truncale of the US District Court for the Eastern District of Texas granted a Second Motion for Ex Parte Temporary Restraining Order filed by plaintiff Bruce Cohn. The motion seeks to freeze certain cryptocurrency assets amid allegations of a scam involving the platform TrustHFTwallet.
Cohn alleges that he was defrauded by individuals posing as Anna Popescu and others, who he met on a dating website in June 2024. According to Cohn, Popescu introduced him to TrustHFTwallet, claiming expertise in cryptocurrency trading and promising to teach him how to profit from it. Following her instructions, Cohn created an account on the platform and began making substantial deposits, totaling over $2.4 million.
Over time, Cohn’s account balance appeared to grow significantly, reportedly exceeding $4.5 million. However, when he attempted to withdraw his funds, he was informed that he needed to deposit additional money to “level up” his account, leading him to suspect he had been scammed. Cohn contends that TrustHFTwallet is not a legitimate trading platform but rather a facade used in a “pig-butchering scam,” a term describing a type of investment scam where victims are misled into depositing assets that are ultimately stolen.
In support of his motion, Cohn presented evidence indicating that such scams have surged in prevalence worldwide. He also indicated that the investigation had revealed further information about the operation of the alleged fraud.
The court’s order permits Cohn to issue subpoenas to gather information about the alleged perpetrators. He specifically seeks to freeze cryptocurrency identified as U.S. Dollar Coin (USDC), with allegations that Circle Internet Group, the organization managing USDC, could blacklist blockchain addresses to effectively freeze assets.
In granting the restraining order, the court found that Cohn had sufficiently demonstrated a risk of immediate and irreparable harm. The judge noted that procedural requirements for such an order had been met, including the necessity of an ex parte hearing without notice to the defendants.
Cohn’s attorney certified that providing notice to the defendants would likely jeopardize the effectiveness of the order, as they might dissipate assets if alerted. The court referenced past cases in which similar ex parte orders had been issued in cryptocurrency fraud cases, reinforcing the rationale for the current decision.
The order prohibits the defendants and their associates from withdrawing, transferring, or encumbering any assets held at the identified target addresses. The court specified that this order would remain in effect for fourteen days unless extended for good cause. No bond is required from Cohn for this restraining order.
This ruling is part of ongoing legal proceedings, as Cohn pursues claims against the defendants under various allegations, including violations of the Racketeering Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (RICO), conversion, and fraud.
Please contact BlockTribune for access to a copy of this filing.
