Cartier Family Member Sentenced for $470 Million Crypto Money Laundering

A 58‑year‑old man who shares a surname with a famous jewelry house was handed an eight‑year prison term in New York after admitting he ran an illegal crypto exchange that moved more than $470 million of drug money. The defendant, who lives in France and also performs as a singer called Max Cartier, used fake tech‑company fronts to hide his illegal activity. He created shell firms such as Bullpix Solutions, Softmill LLC and VC Innovated that existed only to receive and send drug proceeds. By forging contracts and invoices, he tricked banks into thinking the companies were legitimate software businesses. He also split payments into smaller amounts to avoid raising alarms.The operation, known by federal agents as the “Cartier Cell, ” had been active since at least 2018. The defendant claimed a New York hotel was his second home, where he met crypto clients, lawyers and banks. In 2021, the DEA seized almost $940 000 from his accounts after an undercover sting that forced him to funnel drug money into those accounts. Later, he approached the U. S. Attorney’s office in Pennsylvania with counterfeit records and convinced prosecutors to return part of the money, which helped build the case that led to his conviction. He must forfeit more than $2 million, including the money he earned from laundering and several shell‑company bank accounts. A U. S. prosecutor said he used his understanding of international finance to move drug proceeds across borders. Despite the legal troubles, his social media still promotes his music career and a new single titled “Somos Novios. ” An unverified photo from February 2024 shows him with CNN, but no credible source confirms the interview.