United States Air Force cyber analyst, Devin Alan Rhoden, has been arrested in connection with an intricate NFT criminal case, as disclosed in court documents earlier this month. Rhoden stands accused of engaging in a “rug pull” scheme, a tactic where investors are enticed with digital asset promises, only to witness the abrupt disappearance of the project along with their funds. The criminal complaint details Rhoden’s alleged promotion of UndeadApes NFTs, part of the Bored Ape Yacht Club suite, on the gaming platform Discord. Operating under the username Deviinz, he is accused of falsely elevating the NFTs’ value by implying a collaboration with the sought-after NFT collective Stoned Ape Crew.
The repercussions were severe, with Stoned Ape Crew denying any collaboration, causing a significant drop in the perceived value of UndeadApes NFTs. One victim, an Air Force veteran, attested that his digital assets had become virtually worthless. The criminal filing asserts that Rhoden withdrew $80,000 from his Coinbase account, a substantial portion of which is suspected to have been acquired through illicit means. Following this, Rhoden and his wife acquired a $300,000 residence in Florida, raising red flags and prompting an investigation into potential fraud.
Further intensifying the allegations, investigators, armed with authority linked to Rhoden’s Coinbase account and driver’s license, delved into his Google profile. Damning searches such as “does logs show on discord if they delete their account,” “what happens if a utility nfts rugs,” and “wire fraud court martial” were discovered. Discord logs allegedly reveal Rhoden boasting about the funds received from victims. In an interview with the Air Force Office of Special Investigations, Rhoden acknowledged “marketing his services to NFT developers” on Discord but vehemently denied any involvement in fraudulent activities. Currently out on a $20,000 bond, Rhoden awaits a court date, marking a landmark case intertwining the realms of cybersecurity, the military, and the burgeoning NFT market.
