(April 20, 2022) - Three New Hampshire residents have confessed to opening fraudulent bank accounts that were used by an unlicensed virtual currency business.

United States v. Freeman et al., No. 21-cr-41, plea agreement filed (D.N.H. Apr. 15, 2022).

Andrew Spinella, Renee Spinella and a man whose legal name is "Nobody" — formerly known as Richard Paul — each pleaded guilty to one count of wire fraud in the U.S. District Court for the District of New Hampshire and will face sentencing in July.

The three admitted to opening and operating bank accounts between 2016 and 2021 that co-defendant Ian Freeman used to trade virtual currency.

Andrew Spinella, 36, pleaded guilty April 12 to opening personal bank accounts to aid Freeman's business, and Renee Spinella, 24, pleaded guilty April 14 to fraudulently opening a business bank account under the name Crypto Church of NH.

She told her bank that Crypto Church was an international ministry but admitted to the court that the account was actually used by Freeman.

Nobody, 53, pleaded guilty April 15 to opening accounts in his name and in the name of The Church of The Invisible Hand, which Freeman also used for his business.

The defendants admitted that they knew the banks would close the accounts if their true purpose was revealed. Renee Spinella opened the Crypto Church account accompanied by Freeman, with Freeman telling a bank employee he was "just a member of the church," court documents say.

Co-defendants Freeman, Colleen Fordham and Aria DiMezzo have trials scheduled for November.

Georgiana MacDonald, Seth R. Aframe and John J. Kennedy of the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of New Hampshire are prosecuting the case.

John P. Newman of Newman Law Office PLLC represents Andrew Spinella.

Kirsten B. Wilson of Wilson Law represents Renee Spinella.

Anessa Allen Santos of IntelliLaw represents Nobody.