Dylan Meissner, ex VP of finance at Delphi Digital, has been sentenced to four years in prison for a $4.5 million theft from the cryptocurrency research firm. As per the ruling, He has been ordered to repay over $4.6 million, including the stolen funds and an unpaid loan.
Dylan Meissner Charged for Crypto Theft
U.S. District Judge Michael P. Shea of Connecticut handed down the 48-month prison sentence on Dec. 17, followed by two years of supervised release.
Meissner served as Delphi’s vice president of finance between October 2021 and November 2022, and had access to the company’s crypto wallets and bank accounts. Back in January 2022, he received a 50 Ether loan, valued at around $170,000 at the time, claiming it was to offset personal crypto investment losses. However, he failed to repay the loan. Over the subsequent months, until his termination in November 2022, Meissner stole approximately $4.46 million from Delphi’s accounts, faking financial records to hide the theft.
Courtesy: courtlistener.com
In July, Meissner accepted a plea deal and pleaded guilty to wire fraud. He was released on a $100,000 bond and is scheduled to report to prison on Feb. 21, 2025. As part of the plea agreement, he waived his right to appeal.
The 48-month sentence is shorter than both the 51 to 63 months recommended by Meissner’s attorney and the 78 to 97 months sought by prosecutors. His defense argued for leniency, citing his struggles with substance abuse, efforts to maintain sobriety, and admission of guilt to Delphi. The defense also highlighted his cooperation in preparing a spreadsheet detailing the financial damage caused by his actions.
Prosecutors, however, argued that Meissner’s crimes were an intentional and well-orchestrated crime rather than a momentary lapse in judgment. They noted his claim to the Probation Office that he intended to return the stolen money after recovering his personal losses, which they argued showed calculated intent rather than impulsive behavior driven by addiction.
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