FBI sanctions listing
CHRISTOPHER DOUGLAS EMMS
CHRISTOPHER DOUGLAS EMMS is an individual designated on the U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation — Wanted (FBI) sanctions list under the Counterintelligence programme, listed on 2022-04-27. Counterintelligence. This page summarises the public designation — known aliases, British nationality, identifying particulars, the stated reason for listing and linked parties — alongside an independent, transparent risk indicator.
Reason for listing
Conspiracy to Violate the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) Christopher Douglas Emms is wanted for allegedly conspiring to violate the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA). Specifically, conspiring to violate United States sanctions on the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (“DPRK” or “North Korea”) by working with an American citizen to illegally provide cryptocurrency and blockchain technology services to the DPRK. Beginning in or about early 2018, Emms, a cryptocurrency businessman, planned and organized the “Pyongyang Blockchain and Cryptocurrency Conference” for the benefit of the DPRK. Emms allegedly recruited an American cryptocurrency expert to provide services to the DPRK at the Conference and arranged his travel to the DPRK in April of 2019 for this purpose, in violation of United States sanctions. Emms and the expert allegedly answered specific questions about blockchain and cryptocurrency technologies for the DPRK audience, including individuals whom they understood worked for the North Korean government, proposed plans to create specialized “smart contracts” to serve the DPRK’s unique interests, and mapped out cryptocurrency transactions designed to evade and avoid United States sanctions, including by diagramming such transactions on a whiteboard for the North Korean audience. Emms allegedly took steps in an effort to conceal their activity, and the expert's role in the conspiracy, from United States authorities. The expert was arrested by United States authorities in November of 2019, disrupting the scheme. At no time did Emms, or co-conspirator Alejandro Cao de Benós , obtain permission from the Department of the Treasury, Office of Foreign Assets Control (“OFAC”), to provide goods, services, or technology to the DPRK, as is required by law. A federal arrest warrant was issued for Emms in the United States District Court, Southern District of New York, New York, New York, on January 27, 2022, after he was charged w
Statement of reasons as published by US FBI. This is the issuing authority's wording, reproduced for reference.
Designation record
| List / authority | US FBI (FBI) — FBI — Counterintelligence |
|---|---|
| Entity type | Person |
| Programmes / regime | Counterintelligence |
| Date listed | 2022-04-27 |
| Source record ID | fbi:7923b6af185141469f9adf50d8394315 |
| Last updated (our copy) | 2026-06-04 |
Identity & particulars
| Position / role | Counterintelligence |
|---|---|
| Date of birth | October 17, 1991 |
| Place of birth | United Kingdom |
| Nationality / country | British |
| Gender | Male |
Known aliases (1)
Deep-research dossier
Not yet deep-researched
The instant review above is drawn from the public lists. A deep-research dossier goes much further — an analyst-grade OSINT report: associate & co-investment network screening, structural / ownership opacity, a dated risk trajectory, an 8-factor scoring model, and numbered, source-linked evidence. See the format in the design system.
Clarifications & right of reply
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Source & provenance
| Issuing authority | U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation — Wanted |
|---|---|
| Source identifier | fbi:7923b6af185141469f9adf50d8394315 |
| Aggregated by | Sanctiometer (independent) — verify against the issuing authority's official list before acting. |