paraguay court convict Bitcoin Minor charged with energy theft
Paraguay’s judicial system has handed down sentences against two people suspected of mining Bitcoin using stolen energy by bypassing the metering system and directly connecting the electricity grid to their properties.
On June 19, Paraguay’s National Electricity Authority (ANDE) announced that it had obtained favorable judgments in legal proceedings against two miners after a Paraguayan court sentenced Cristian Daniel Jara Villalba and Ramon Martínez Molinigo to two years in prison for energy theft.
Nevertheless, although they were found guilty, the court halted the execution of their sentences. Still, the ruling was called a milestone for power companies, emphasizing that it sets a strong precedent due to the nature of the lawsuit.
This is because one of the defendants, who had a contract with the power company where the miners were found, could not show that he had no knowledge that his property was being used for these means, and is also affected by the judgment.
“This judicial decision sets a strong precedent by establishing that justice extends not only to those who make illegal connections, but also to those who facilitate, permit, or benefit from activities that violate the nation’s electricity system.” Ande emphasized.
Furthermore, I reconfirmed it. “A zero-tolerance policy against acts that damage the country’s electricity system.” swear “We will continue to strengthen controls and legal measures to ensure that those who obtain electricity through illegal means are held accountable before the law.”
The move is part of the government’s fierce battle for years against illegal mining and energy theft, as these activities cost the government and the country millions of dollars.
However, this is not the first conviction in Paraguay for illegal energy theft for the purpose of mining Bitcoin. In 2023, Edgar Saavedra and Rodrigo Suarez were also found guilty of the same crime and sentenced to two years in prison, but the sentence was suspended.
In August 2024, Carlos Raul Rojas was sentenced to 18 months in prison on a similar charge for causing losses to ANDE of more than $1.5 million.
