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A court in Michigan will hear the case of Benjamin James Cance. He is charged with shipping of the arms overseas. In his operations Cance allegedly used bitcoin digital currency.

According to the United State Attorney’s office in the Western District of Michigan, the charges itself are not about bitcoin.  

“The first alleges that he illegally shipped gun components that are on the Federal Munitions List overseas. The second charge alleges that he engaged in money laundering by using the profits from this business to purchase a house. Finally, Cance is charged with illegal possession of an unregistered machinegun. International arms shipment is punishable by imprisonment for up to 20 years; the maximum penalty for money laundering and possession of a machinegun is ten years in prison.”

The Attorney’s office says that Cance may have used darknet and bitcoin in his operations.

“In pretrial filings with the court, the government disclosed that Cance’s illegal dealings with his overseas customers were allegedly conducted through illegal internet sites, referred to as the "darknet." He also allegedly utilized electronic currencies, such as Bitcoin, to get paid for his services in an effort to hide the nature of his activities.”

On 11 August, Cance appeared before the magistrate and pleaded not guilty. No trial date has yet been set.

According to the Attorney’s office Benjamin Cance used darknet to trade weapons. Earlier this year, weapon trade in darknet was at the centre of media attention after another notable case.

This May, the Australian Federal Police (AFP) in collaboration with the Australian Customs and Border Protection Service and the United States Homeland Security Investigations has carried out a six-month joint operation monitoring illegal firearms traffic in the DarkWeb. The operation has seen four people in Australia charged with attempting to purchase illegal firearms and 17 more arrests made across Europe and North America as well as seizures of firearms, ballistic armour, illicit drugs and $80,000 in bitcoins