Thirteen individuals accused of operating a cryptocurrency investment scam in Mandaluyong City have been sentenced to three years in prison after pleading guilty to a lesser offense. The individuals entered their pleas during an arraignment and pre-trial hearing at the Mandaluyong City Regional Trial Court Branch 211 on May 26, 2026.
The accused were initially charged with Computer-Related Fraud and Misuse of Devices under Republic Act No. 10175, also known as the Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012. Court records state that the individuals requested to plead guilty to the lesser offense of Aiding or Abetting in the Commission of Cybercrime under Section 5(a) of the same law.
Sentencing and Probation
The court sentenced each of the 13 individuals to a straight penalty of three years of imprisonment. The NBI stated that according to the court report, the consequences of the plea change were explained to the accused before they voluntarily entered their guilty pleas for all pending cases.
The convicted individuals are temporarily committed at the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) facility in Mandaluyong City. They will remain at the facility pending the processing of their applications for probation.
NBI Enforcement Operation
The convictions stem from a law enforcement operation conducted on May 9, 2026, by the National Bureau of Investigation – Dangerous Drugs Division (NBI-DDD) and the NBI Digital Forensic Laboratory Division. The raid was supported by the Philippine Air Force Intelligence Unit and executed via a Warrant to Search, Seize, and Examine Computer Data (WSSECD).
The operation took place at a condominium in Mandaluyong City following reports of fraudulent activities led by an individual using the alias “Boss Choi.” NBI agents initially arrested 15 individuals, which included 13 Filipino nationals and two foreign nationals consisting of one Chinese male and one Malaysian male.
Forensic Findings and Fraud Scheme
According to the initial NBI report, the group operated a coordinated scamming network that used a spoofed website to solicit fraudulent cryptocurrency investments from victims. The 15 individuals were caught actively working on desktop computers at the time of the law enforcement raid.
An on-site digital forensic examination of the seized computer devices revealed critical digital data that served as instruments for committing computer-related forgery. The status of the legal proceedings regarding the two foreign nationals initially arrested alongside the 13 convicted individuals was not disclosed in the updated court records.
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This article is published on BitPinas: 13 Plead Guilty in Mandaluyong Crypto Scam Case, Sentenced to 3 Years in Prison
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