Paraguayan Justice System Achieves Conviction for Power Theft Crime Linked to Cryptocurrency Mining

Paraguay’s judicial system has achieved a significant milestone with its second conviction related to power theft linked to cryptocurrency mining. Carlos Raul Rojas, the owner of a property housing more than 1,000 cryptocurrency miners, has been sentenced to 18 months in prison for causing over $1.5 million in losses to the National Power Administration (ANDE). This marks the Paraguayan government’s commitment to prosecuting power theft cases associated with crypto mining. Two other individuals involved in the investigation, Lucas Albert Dos Santos and Rafael Boragina Morais, were not charged as they accepted a conditional suspension of proceedings. Rojas’ property, disguised as a chicken farm, was raided by authorities on March 23, 2023, leading to the seizure of three power transformers. It is estimated that the farm had been operating for two years, causing losses of up to $66,000 per month to the National Power Company of Paraguay. The conviction comes at a time when ANDE is actively combating illegal cryptocurrency mining, utilizing advanced technology such as supervisory and control systems and artificial intelligence to monitor power consumption. Furthermore, the Paraguayan Senate recently passed a law granting ANDE and national tribunals the power to impose penalties of up to 10 years in prison for energy theft crimes related to cryptocurrencies.