Billionaire cryptojacker 'Whale James' operation in Istanbul: 9 luxury vehicles registered in his wife's name were seized

Within the scope of the work carried out by the teams of the Intelligence and Financial Crimes Fighting Branch Directorates of the Istanbul Police Department, with the support of the National Intelligence Organization (MIT), the police proceedings against the suspect Richard James Schueler and his wife A.K., who were wanted by Interpol with a red notice on the grounds of committing a large amount of cryptocurrency fraud and were detained in the operation held in Beşiktaş, are continuing.

As the investigation continued, 9 vehicles determined to be registered in the name of the suspect's wife were seized. The vehicles were pulled to the parking lot after the procedures.

On the other hand, the procedures of the suspect's three detained bodyguards continue at the police station.

Minister of Justice Akın Gürlek stated that US citizen Richard James Schueler, for whom a red notice was issued by Interpol for allegedly committing a $1 billion crypto asset fraud in the USA and Finland, was caught in Istanbul.

Gürlek shared a post on his social account with the title "Türkiye will not be a shelter for cross-border crimes and wanted suspects."

Minister Gürlek emphasized that they continue their work with determination, with the strong coordination of security and intelligence units, to prevent Türkiye from becoming a place where people wanted for crimes can take shelter, to capture internationally wanted people and to prevent them from escaping from justice, and said:

"US citizen Richard James Schueler, for whom a red notice was issued by Interpol for allegedly committing a $1 billion crypto asset fraud in the USA and Finland, was caught and detained in Istanbul. As a result of the work carried out by the Intelligence and Financial Crimes Branch of our Istanbul Police Department, under the coordination of our Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office, with the support of our National Intelligence Organization, it was determined that the suspect was in Istanbul. The suspect was found to be in Istanbul on October 14, 2026 in Beşiktaş. Schueler and his wife were detained during the operation. As part of the ongoing work, 3 more people who were identified as Schueler's bodyguards were caught and detained in a total of 15 addresses in Beşiktaş, Üsküdar and Sarıyer districts. 7 million 150 thousand US dollars and 160 thousand TL, 6 cold wallets, 300 bags of different brands, 100 pairs of shoes, 136 glasses and 28 wrist watches, 97 pieces of jewelery and various valuables were found. items, 29 mobile phones, 12 laptops, 11 computer cases, 19 SSD/external disks, 46 USB sticks and 19 video cards, 4 long-barreled rifles, 3 unlicensed pistols and 1400 cartridges were seized."