Bethlehem Man Pleads Guilty in International Crypto Fraud Case

A Bethlehem man who in September asked the federal court to dismiss his criminal charges in an international crypto-currency scheme that prosecutors said defrauded investors out of millions of dollars is pleading guilty after his bid was rejected. On Feb. 20, Thomas “Papa” Smith, 36, pleaded guilty to two of the three charges filed against him, specifically to conspiracy to commit securities fraud and conspiracy to commit wire fraud. In exchange, prosecutors dropped the count of conspiracy to commit money laundering. As of Friday, the proposed sentences by the prosecution and defense had not been filed.