A Maryland cybersecurity consultant who allegedly stole nearly US$55mil (RM224.37mil) in hacked cryptocurrency and spent some of it on rare Pokémon and Magic: The Gathering cards went on trial in New York.

Jonathan Spalletta was charged in March with two 2021 hacks of cryptocurrency exchange Uranium Finance, which allegedly shut down as a result. Opening statements in the case began on Sept 28 in Manhattan federal court. Spalletta, who has pleaded not guilty, faces a maximum of 20 years in prison if convicted of the most serious charge against him.

Addressing the jury, federal prosecutor Shaun Werbelow said Spalletta “orchestrated a plan to destroy a whole…