ng_attempts; $rval = $this->contact_service( 'ping', array( 'args' => $vaultpress_pings ) ); if ( $rval || $ping_attempts >= 3 ) break; if ( !$rval ) usleep(500000); } while ( true ); if ( !$rval ) { if ( $this->get_option( 'connection_error_code' ) !== -8 ) { // Do not save pings when the subscription is inactive. $__vp_recursive_ping_lock = true; $this->ai_ping_insert( serialize( $vaultpress_pings ) ); } } $this->reset_pings(); if ( $close_wpdb ) { $wpdb->__destruct(); unset( $wpdb ); } return $rval; } function resolve_content_dir() { // Take the easy way out if ( defined( 'WP_CONTENT_DIR' ) ) { if ( substr( WP_CONTENT_DIR, -1 ) != DIRECTORY_SEPARATOR ) return WP_CONTENT_DIR . DIRECTORY_SEPARATOR; return WP_CONTENT_DIR; } // Best guess if ( defined( 'ABSPATH' ) ) { if ( substr( ABSPATH, -1 ) != DIRECTORY_SEPARATOR ) return ABSPATH . DIRECTORY_SEPARATOR . 'wp-content' . DIRECTORY_SEPARATOR; return ABSPATH . 'wp-content' . DIRECTORY_SEPARATOR; } // Run with a solid assumption: WP_CONTENT_DIR/vaultpress/vaultpress.php return dirname( __DIR__ ) . DIRECTORY_SEPARATOR; } function resolve_upload_path() { $upload_path = false; $upload_dir = wp_upload_dir(); if ( isset( $upload_dir['basedir'] ) ) $upload_path = $upload_dir['basedir']; // Nothing recorded? use a best guess! if ( !$upload_path || $upload_path == realpath( ABSPATH ) ) return $this->resolve_content_dir() . 'uploads' . DIRECTORY_SEPARATOR; if ( substr( $upload_path, -1 ) != DIRECTORY_SEPARATOR ) $upload_path .= DIRECTORY_SEPARATOR; return $upload_path; } function load_first( $value ) { $value = array_unique( $value ); // just in case there are duplicates return array_merge( preg_grep( '/vaultpress\.php$/', $value ), preg_grep( '/vaultpress\.php$/', $value, PREG_GREP_INVERT ) ); } function is_multisite() { if ( function_exists( 'is_multisite' ) ) return is_multisite(); return false; } function is_main_site() { if ( !function_exists( 'is_main_site' ) || !$this->is_multisite() ) return true; return is_main_site(); } function is_registered() { $key = $this->get_option( 'key' ); $secret = $this->get_option( 'secret' ); return !empty( $key ) && !empty( $secret ); } function clear_connection() { $this->delete_option( 'connection' ); $this->delete_option( 'connection_error_code' ); $this->delete_option( 'connection_error_message' ); $this->delete_option( 'connection_test' ); } function site_url() { $site_url = ''; // compatibility for WordPress MU Domain Mapping plugin if ( defined( 'DOMAIN_MAPPING' ) && DOMAIN_MAPPING && ! function_exists( 'domain_mapping_siteurl' ) ) { if ( !function_exists( 'is_plugin_active' ) ) require_once ABSPATH . '/wp-admin/includes/plugin.php'; $plugin = 'wordpress-mu-domain-mapping/domain_mapping.php'; if ( is_plugin_active( $plugin ) ) include_once( WP_PLUGIN_DIR . '/' . $plugin ); } if ( function_exists( 'domain_mapping_siteurl' ) ) $site_url = domain_mapping_siteurl( false ); if ( empty( $site_url ) ) $site_url = site_url(); return $site_url; } /** * Sync the VaultPress options to WordPress.com if the Jetpack plugin is active. */ function sync_jetpack_options() { if ( class_exists( 'Jetpack_Sync' ) && method_exists( 'Jetpack_Sync', 'sync_options' ) && defined( 'JETPACK__VERSION' ) && version_compare( JETPACK__VERSION, '4.1', '<' ) ) { Jetpack_Sync::sync_options( __FILE__, $this->auto_register_option, $this->option_name ); } } /** * Add the VaultPress options to the Jetpack options management whitelist. * Allows Jetpack to register VaultPress options automatically. * * @param array $options The list of whitelisted option names. * * @return array The updated whitelist */ function add_to_jetpack_options_whitelist( $options ) { $options[] = $this->option_name; $options[] = $this->auto_register_option; return $options; } /** * When the VaultPress auto-register option is updated, run the registration call. * * This should only be run when the option is updated from the Jetpack/WP.com * API call, and only if the new key is different than the old key. * * @param mixed $old_value The old option value, or the option name (if add_option). * @param mixed $value The new option value. */ function updated_auto_register_option( $old_value, $value ) { // Not an API call or CLI call if ( ! class_exists( 'WPCOM_JSON_API_Update_Option_Endpoint' ) && ! ( defined( 'WP_CLI' ) && WP_CLI ) ) { return; } remove_action( "update_option_{$this->auto_register_option}", array( $this, 'updated_auto_register_option' ) ); $defaults = array( 'key' => false, 'action' => 'register', // or `response` 'status' => 'working', 'error' => false, ); // `wp_parse_args` uses arrays, might as well be explicit about it. $registration = (array) json_decode( $value ); $registration = wp_parse_args( $registration, $defaults ); // If we have a working connection, don't update the key. if ( $this->check_connection( true ) ) { $registration['action'] = 'response'; $registration['error'] = 'VaultPress is already registered on this site.'; update_option( $this->auto_register_option, json_encode( $registration ) ); return; } if ( ! $registration['key'] ) { return; } $registration['action'] = 'response'; $response = $this->register( $registration['key'] ); if ( is_wp_error( $response ) ) { $registration['status'] = 'broken'; $registration['error'] = $response->get_error_message(); } else if ( $this->get_option( 'connection_error_code' ) ) { $registration['status'] = 'broken'; $registration['error'] = $this->get_option( 'connection_error_message' ); } else { $registration['error'] = false; } update_option( $this->auto_register_option, json_encode( $registration ) ); } function add_global_actions_and_filters() { add_action( 'init', array( $this, 'sync_jetpack_options' ), 0, 99 ); add_filter( 'jetpack_options_whitelist', array( $this, 'add_to_jetpack_options_whitelist' ) ); add_action( "update_option_{$this->auto_register_option}", array( $this, 'updated_auto_register_option' ), 10, 2 ); add_action( "add_option_{$this->auto_register_option}", array( $this, 'updated_auto_register_option' ), 10, 2 ); add_action( 'admin_enqueue_scripts', array( $this, 'styles' ) ); } function add_admin_actions_and_filters() { add_action( 'admin_init', array( $this, 'admin_init' ) ); add_action( 'admin_menu', array( $this, 'admin_menu' ), 5 ); # Priority 5, so it's called before Jetpack's admin_menu. add_action( 'admin_head', array( $this, 'admin_head' ) ); } function add_listener_actions_and_filters() { add_action( 'admin_bar_menu', array( $this, 'toolbar' ), 999 ); // Comments add_action( 'delete_comment', array( $this, 'comment_action_handler' ) ); add_action( 'wp_set_comment_status', array( $this, 'comment_action_handler' ) ); add_action( 'trashed_comment', array( $this, 'comment_action_handler' ) ); add_action( 'untrashed_comment', array( $this, 'comment_action_handler' ) ); add_action( 'wp_insert_comment', array( $this, 'comment_action_handler' ) ); add_action( 'comment_post', array( $this, 'comment_action_handler' ) ); add_action( 'edit_comment', array( $this, 'comment_action_handler' ) ); // Commentmeta add_action( 'added_comment_meta', array( $this, 'commentmeta_insert_handler' ), 10, 2 ); add_action( 'updated_comment_meta', array( $this, 'commentmeta_modification_handler' ), 10, 4 ); add_action( 'deleted_comment_meta', array( $this, 'commentmeta_modification_handler' ), 10, 4 ); // Users if ( $this->is_main_site() ) { add_action( 'user_register', array( $this, 'userid_action_handler' ) ); add_action( 'password_reset', array( $this, 'userid_action_handler' ) ); add_action( 'profile_update', array( $this, 'userid_action_handler' ) ); add_action( 'user_register', array( $this, 'userid_action_handler' ) ); add_action( 'deleted_user', array( $this, 'userid_action_handler' ) ); } // Usermeta if ( $this->is_main_site() ) { // Keeping these action hooks for backward compatibility add_action( 'added_usermeta', array( $this, 'usermeta_action_handler' ), 10, 4 ); add_action( 'update_usermeta', array( $this, 'usermeta_action_handler' ), 10, 4 ); add_action( 'delete_usermeta', array( $this, 'usermeta_action_handler' ), 10, 4 ); add_action( 'added_user_meta', array( $this, 'usermeta_action_handler' ), 10, 4 ); add_action( 'update_user_meta', array( $this, 'usermeta_action_handler' ), 10, 4 ); add_action( 'delete_user_meta', array( $this, 'usermeta_action_handler' ), 10, 4 ); } // Posts add_action( 'delete_post', array( $this, 'post_action_handler' ) ); add_action( 'trash_post', array( $this, 'post_action_handler' ) ); add_action( 'untrash_post', array( $this, 'post_action_handler' ) ); add_action( 'edit_post', array( $this, 'post_action_handler' ) ); add_action( 'save_post', array( $this, 'post_action_handler' ) ); add_action( 'wp_insert_post', array( $this, 'post_action_handler' ) ); add_action( 'edit_attachment', array( $this, 'post_action_handler' ) ); add_action( 'add_attachment', array( $this, 'post_action_handler' ) ); add_action( 'delete_attachment', array( $this, 'post_action_handler' ) ); add_action( 'private_to_publish', array( $this, 'post_action_handler' ) ); add_action( 'wp_restore_post_revision', array( $this, 'post_action_handler' ) ); // Postmeta add_action( 'added_post_meta', array( $this, 'postmeta_insert_handler' ), 10, 4 ); add_action( 'update_post_meta', array( $this, 'postmeta_modification_handler' ), 10, 4 ); add_action( 'updated_post_meta', array( $this, 'postmeta_modification_handler' ), 10, 4 ); add_action( 'delete_post_meta', array( $this, 'postmeta_modification_handler' ), 10, 4 ); add_action( 'deleted_post_meta', array( $this, 'postmeta_modification_handler' ), 10, 4 ); add_action( 'added_postmeta', array( $this, 'postmeta_action_handler' ), 10, 3 ); add_action( 'update_postmeta', array( $this, 'postmeta_action_handler' ), 10, 3 ); add_action( 'delete_postmeta', array( $this, 'postmeta_action_handler' ), 10, 3 ); // Links add_action( 'edit_link', array( $this, 'link_action_handler' ) ); add_action( 'add_link', array( $this, 'link_action_handler' ) ); add_action( 'delete_link', array( $this, 'link_action_handler' ) ); // Taxonomy add_action( 'created_term', array( $this, 'term_handler' ), 2 ); add_action( 'edited_terms', array( $this, 'term_handler' ), 2 ); add_action( 'delete_term', array( $this, 'term_handler' ), 2 ); add_action( 'edit_term_taxonomy', array( $this, 'term_taxonomy_handler' ) ); add_action( 'delete_term_taxonomy', array( $this, 'term_taxonomy_handler' ) ); add_action( 'edit_term_taxonomies', array( $this, 'term_taxonomies_handler' ) ); add_action( 'add_term_relationship', array( $this, 'term_relationship_handler' ), 10, 2 ); add_action( 'delete_term_relationships', array( $this, 'term_relationships_handler' ), 10, 2 ); add_action( 'set_object_terms', array( $this, 'set_object_terms_handler' ), 10, 3 ); // Files if ( $this->is_main_site() ) { add_action( 'switch_theme', array( $this, 'theme_action_handler' ) ); add_action( 'activate_plugin', array( $this, 'plugin_action_handler' ) ); add_action( 'deactivate_plugin', array( $this, 'plugin_action_handler' ) ); } add_action( 'wp_handle_upload', array( $this, 'upload_handler' ) ); // Options add_action( 'deleted_option', array( $this, 'option_handler' ), 1 ); add_action( 'updated_option', array( $this, 'option_handler' ), 1 ); add_action( 'added_option', array( $this, 'option_handler' ), 1 ); $this->add_woocommerce_actions(); $this->add_vp_required_filters(); } function add_woocommerce_actions() { add_action( 'woocommerce_tax_rate_deleted', array( $this, 'woocommerce_tax_rate_handler' ), 10, 1 ); add_action( 'woocommerce_tax_rate_updated', array( $this, 'woocommerce_tax_rate_handler' ), 10, 1 ); add_action( 'woocommerce_tax_rate_added', array( $this, 'woocommerce_tax_rate_handler' ), 10, 1 ); add_action( 'woocommerce_new_order_item', array( $this, 'woocommerce_order_item_handler' ), 10, 1 ); add_action( 'woocommerce_update_order_item', array( $this, 'woocommerce_order_item_handler' ), 10, 1 ); add_action( 'woocommerce_delete_order_item', array( $this, 'woocommerce_order_item_handler' ), 10, 1 ); add_action( 'added_order_item_meta', array( $this, 'woocommerce_order_item_meta_handler' ), 10, 1 ); add_action( 'updated_order_item_meta', array( $this, 'woocommerce_order_item_meta_handler' ), 10, 1 ); add_action( 'deleted_order_item_meta', array( $this, 'woocommerce_order_item_meta_handler' ), 10, 1 ); add_action( 'woocommerce_attribute_added', array( $this, 'woocommerce_attribute_handler' ), 10, 1 ); add_action( 'woocommerce_attribute_updated', array( $this, 'woocommerce_attribute_handler' ), 10, 1 ); add_action( 'woocommerce_attribute_deleted', array( $this, 'woocommerce_attribute_handler' ), 10, 1 ); } function add_vp_required_filters() { // Log ins if ( $this->get_option( 'login_lockdown' ) ) { add_action( 'login_form', array( $this, 'add_js_token' ) ); add_filter( 'authenticate', array( $this, 'authenticate' ), 999 ); } // Report back to VaultPress add_action( 'shutdown', array( $this, 'do_pings' ) ); // VaultPress likes being first in line add_filter( 'pre_update_option_active_plugins', array( $this, 'load_first' ) ); } function get_jetpack_email() { if ( ! class_exists( 'Jetpack' ) ) { return false; } // For version of Jetpack prior to 7.7. if ( defined( 'JETPACK__VERSION' ) && version_compare( JETPACK__VERSION, '7.7', '<' ) && ! class_exists( 'Jetpack_IXR_Client' ) ) { Jetpack::load_xml_rpc_client(); } $xml = new Jetpack_IXR_Client( array( 'user_id' => get_current_user_id() ) ); $xml->query( 'wpcom.getUserEmail' ); if ( ! $xml->isError() ) { return $xml->getResponse(); } return new WP_Error( $xml->getErrorCode(), $xml->getErrorMessage() ); } function get_key_via_jetpack( $already_purchased = false ) { if ( ! class_exists( 'Jetpack' ) ) { return false; } // For version of Jetpack prior to 7.7. if ( defined( 'JETPACK__VERSION' ) && version_compare( JETPACK__VERSION, '7.7', '<' ) && ! class_exists( 'Jetpack_IXR_Client' ) ) { Jetpack::load_xml_rpc_client(); } $xml = new Jetpack_IXR_Client( array( 'user_id' => Jetpack_Options::get_option( 'master_user' ) ) ); $xml->query( 'vaultpress.registerSite', $already_purchased ); if ( ! $xml->isError() ) { return $xml->getResponse(); } return new WP_Error( $xml->getErrorCode(), $xml->getErrorMessage() ); } function register_via_jetpack( $already_purchased = false ) { $registration_key = $this->get_key_via_jetpack( $already_purchased ); if ( is_wp_error( $registration_key ) ) { return $registration_key; } return self::register( $registration_key ); } } $vaultpress = VaultPress::init(); if ( isset( $_GET['vaultpress'] ) && $_GET['vaultpress'] ) { if ( !function_exists( 'wp_magic_quotes' ) ) { // Escape with wpdb. $_GET = add_magic_quotes( $_GET ); $_POST = add_magic_quotes( $_POST ); $_COOKIE = add_magic_quotes( $_COOKIE ); $_SERVER = add_magic_quotes( $_SERVER ); // Force REQUEST to be GET + POST. If SERVER, COOKIE, or ENV are needed, use those superglobals directly. $_REQUEST = array_merge( $_GET, $_POST ); } else { wp_magic_quotes(); } if ( !function_exists( 'wp_get_current_user' ) ) include ABSPATH . '/wp-includes/pluggable.php'; // TODO: this prevents some error notices but do we need it? is there a better way to check capabilities/logged in user/etc? if ( function_exists( 'wp_cookie_constants' ) && !defined( 'AUTH_COOKIE' ) ) wp_cookie_constants(); $vaultpress->parse_request( null ); die(); } // only load hotfixes if it's not a VP request require_once __DIR__ . '/class.vaultpress-hotfixes.php'; $hotfixes = new VaultPress_Hotfixes(); // Add a helper method to WP CLI for auto-registerion via Jetpack if ( defined( 'WP_CLI' ) && WP_CLI ) { require_once __DIR__ . '/class.vaultpress-cli.php'; } require_once __DIR__ . '/cron-tasks.php'; Indo-Canadian charged with laundering bitcoin worth over $24 mn in US - Social News XYZ
Social News XYZ     

Indo-Canadian charged with laundering bitcoin worth over $24 mn in US

Posted By: Gopi June 1, 2023

Indo-Canadian charged with laundering bitcoin worth over $24 mn in US

New York, June 1 (SocialNews.XYZ) A district court in the US has ordered detention of an Indo-Canadian entrepreneur following indictment on charges of laundering 450 Bitcoin (BTC), valued at $24,020,699.83 at the time of the transaction.

The order for Firoz Patel, 48, came on Wednesday, shortly before he reported to prison in another case in 2021.

 

The two-count indictment, unsealed on May 17, charged Firoz with money laundering and engaging in monetary transactions in property derived from specified unlawful activity.

Judge Dabney L. Friedrich of the US District Court of Columbia ordered that Firoz be detained pending trial, a Department of Justice release said.

Previously, Firoz, his brother Ferhan, and their company MH Pillars, doing business as Payza, were prosecuted in the District Court of Columbia for operating an Internet-based unlicensed money service business that processed more than $250 million in transactions.

Through Payza.com -- an internet-based payment service -- the defendants ran a money transmitting business that operated without the necessary state licenses and knowingly transmitted funds that were derived from illegal activity.

The brothers each pled guilty to conspiracy to commit crimes against the US by operating an unlicensed money transmitting business and by laundering monetary instruments.

As part of his plea agreement, Firoz was required to disclose all known assets to the US government.

On November 10, 2020, he was sentenced to 36 months in prison and was given a reporting date.

The court also entered a forfeiture judgment for "any property, real or personal, involved in" the offence to which Firoz Patel had pled guilty.

According to court documents, between his sentencing and reporting dates, Firoz transferred 450 BTC, traceable to Payza.com, to an account at a virtual currency exchange in the US.

The 450 Bitcoin would have been subject to forfeiture in Firoz's previous criminal case.

The virtual currency exchange account was opened using the name and date of birth of Firoz's father, but with an email address and phone number controlled by Firoz.

When the virtual currency exchange requested additional information about the account and the large deposit, it received a response in the name of an employee of a company in India affiliated with Payza.

The account containing the 450 Bitcoin was ultimately frozen.

Firoz began his career by working at an Indian grocery store owned by his father in Canada.

After finishing his studies and obtaining a degree in Business Administration from the Champlain College in Montreal, he started his online payment solution, AlertPay, which was later renamed Payza.

Source: IANS

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Indo-Canadian charged with laundering bitcoin worth over $24 mn in US

About Gopi

Gopi Adusumilli is a Programmer. He is the editor of SocialNews.XYZ and President of AGK Fire Inc.

He enjoys designing websites, developing mobile applications and publishing news articles on current events from various authenticated news sources.

When it comes to writing he likes to write about current world politics and Indian Movies. His future plans include developing SocialNews.XYZ into a News website that has no bias or judgment towards any.

He can be reached at gopi@socialnews.xyz