Judge Probes Global Charges Before Do Kwon’s US Sentencing

Crypto News Regulation

Written by Aaron S.,

Editor-In-Chief

Last Updated: December 09, 2025

Key Takeaways

Judge Engelmayer seeks clarity on how Do Kwon’s South Korea and Montenegro charges could affect his upcoming US sentencing;
The court is weighing whether Kwon’s four months in Montenegro for document forgery should reduce his US prison time;
Prosecutors want at least 12 years for Kwon, while defense lawyers request no more than five.

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Judge Probes Global Charges Before Do Kwon’s US Sentencing

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A United States federal judge has asked attorneys for clarity on criminal charges pending against the Terraform Labs co‑founder in both South Korea and Montenegro.

Judge Paul Engelmayer is reviewing whether sentences from South Korea and Montenegro might overlap with or affect any punishment imposed in the United States, where a sentencing hearing is set for December 11.

According to a filing in the US District Court for the Southern District of New York, Do Kwon, who pleaded guilty in August to two felony counts, wire fraud and conspiracy to defraud, currently faces additional legal scrutiny beyond his US plea agreement.

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The filing also explores whether the nearly four‑month term Kwon served in Montenegro for travel‑document forgery should count toward any sentence in the US.

Judge Engelmayer requested specifics on the maximum and minimum sentences Kwon could face in South Korea, as well as whether authorities there would recognize his time served in Montenegro.

The judge's questions suggest concern that if Kwon completes a US sentence and then serves the remaining time in South Korea, he might be released earlier than expected.

Filing information notes that defense attorneys are asking for a US sentence not exceeding five years, while prosecutors are proposing at least 12 years behind bars.

A federal judge in New York recently sentenced William Lonergan Hill, co-founder and chief technology officer of Samourai Wallet, to four years in prison. How did the case unfold? Read the full story.