Category: Divorce Investigations

Archive of topics related to divorce investigation, litigation and discovery for family law attorneys, accountants and others from the specialists at The NGH Group.

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CNBC Cites Himonidis as Expert on Cryptocurrency in Divorce

Crypto technology set with isometric symbols

On May 20, CNBC published an article on the challenges of tracking down cryptocurrency in divorce cases. Titled “A husband hid $500,000 in bitcoin during a divorce—and got busted by a crypto hunter,” the article includes insights from divorce attorneys, financial advisors, and cryptocurrency forensic investigators, including NGH Group President Nicholas Himonidis.

As licensed private investigators specializing in high-tech investigations, including computer forensics and cryptocurrency/blockchain forensics, the NGH Group has firsthand knowledge of how the cryptocurrency landscape continues to evolve. No longer just hunting down undisclosed bitcoin, the NGH Group conducts comprehensive cryptocurrency forensic investigations to locate and trace many forms of cryptocurrency and NFTs across multiple blockchains, providing critical evidence to attorneys and their clients.

“There’s not just a couple of blockchains to worry about anymore. There’s hundreds and hundreds of coins out there on their own little independent blockchains,” said Himonidis, who serves on the New York State Bar Association Task Force on Emerging Digital Finance and Currency and is co-chair of the Nassau County Bar Association Cyber Law Committee.

The NGH Group is one of very few private firms with access to—and certified in the use of—Chainalysis Reactor, one of the most powerful cryptocurrency forensic tools available. Tools like Reactor and Chainalysis Storyline allow the NGH Group to track cryptocurrency and NFTs across multiple blockchains and remain on the cutting edge of identifying and tracing crypto assets.

Read the full CNBC article here.

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NYT Taps Nick Himonidis for Cryptocurrency Expertise

Monero Image for Cryptocurrency Expertis Post

When the New York Times needed an expert for an article on divorcing spouses hiding assets using cryptocurrency, they contacted NGH Group CEO Nicholas G. Himonidis. The attorney and cryptocurrency forensics expert shared several instances of finding crypto assets hidden by divorcing spouses.

  • A forensic search of one laptop found $700,000 in the privacy coin Monero in a hot wallet. When asked about it, the spouse feigned surprise at the wallet’s existence.
  • When his wife filed for divorce, another man transferred millions of dollars to digital wallets and blockchain-based smart contracts before fleeing the United States.

Read the full article

 

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NGH educates divorce lawyers on tracking cryptocurrency

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NGH Group President and CEO Nicholas G. Himonidis shared his cryptocurrency expertise  with the Erie County Bar Association on September 14, 2021. His online presentation on how to find and track cryptocurrency in divorce litigation was part of the group’s continuing education program.

Divorcing spouses are increasingly using Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies to hide assets and to conduct “secret” transactions. In his presentation, Nick educated attorneys on the benefits of digital forensics when accessing the spouse’s electronic devices and examining blockchain transactions.

He also explained the types of “wallets” a spouse may use to hold and hide cryptocurrency, how cryptocurrency exchanges work, what documents are available for attorneys to pursue, and the critical differences between “peer to peer” vs. “exchange based” cryptocurrency activity.

The presentation featured practical tips that attorneys can use in their own practices right away.

To request Mr. Himonidis as a speaker on this or other topics, call (516) 621-6500 or send an email

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NGH speaks to Nassau County attorneys about spousal digital espionage

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The Nassau County Bar Association will feature NGH Group CEO and President Nicholas G. Himonidis, J.D., CFE, CCFS, CCFI, as the guest speaker at their September 13, 2021, meeting in Mineola, N.Y. Nick will update members on legal issues that arise when litigating spouses attempt to access each other’s digital communications.

When spouses try to access their partner’s texts, emails, social media posts, and other electronic communications in a divorce or custody battle, they can potentially face significant civil and criminal liabilities. Nick will brief members on the latest federal and state laws, as well as recent court cases and the liabilities that attorneys may face.

Many spouses may believe that their relationship makes it legal to access their partner’s electronic communications, but being married to someone doesn’t give them the legal right to intercept those communications.

Not only can spouses face significant criminal and civil liabilities, but so can their attorneys.

To request Mr. Himonidis as a speaker on this or other topics, call (516) 621-6500 or send an email.

 

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Nick Himonidis addresses spousal ‘digital espionage’ in prestigious AAML Journal

Digital Espionage Photo from BigStock

In the midst of a divorce or custody battle, spouses may try to access their partner’s texts, emails, social media posts, and other electronic communications. They may be looking for evidence of infidelity, activities that raise questions about their fitness as a parent, or hidden financial assets.

They may also be looking at serious civil and criminal liabilities if they engage in this conduct and cross the line from “legitimate self-help” to “unlawful interception.”  Being married to or living with someone doesn’t grant carte blanche to read or intercept their personal communications.

In his recent article in the Journal of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers (JAAML), NGH Group President and CEO Nick Himonidis outlines the legal issues involved. The article explains:

  • Applicable federal and state laws, both civil and criminal
  • Significant court cases in this area, including landmark matrimonial rulings
  • Potential civil and criminal liabilities for litigants, and potentially their attorneys

To read the article, please click here.

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Cryptocurrency and Divorce Litigation: ABA Family Law Conference

Nick Himonidis joined a panel speaking on cryptocurrency in divorce litigation at the April, 2020 ABA Family Law conference in San Diego.  Nick was joined by forensic accountant Mark DiMichael of Citrin Cooperman and attorney Kelly Burris of Cordell & Cordell discussing ‘Cryptocurrency and How to Find it and Track It in Divorce Litigation’.  The presentation on Thursday April 30, 2020 at 11:00 a.m. (PST) was webcast live to the entire ABA FLS.

The content of the session is available online in CLE course format on the NACLE (National Academy of Continuing Legal Education) website at: https://www.nacle.com/CLE/Courses/Cryptocurrency-How-to-Find-and-Track-it-in-Divorce-Litigation-1687

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Nick Himonidis on Cryptocurrency in Divorce Litigation at 2019 NADP conference in Ft. Lauderdale

As an expert in computer forensics, financial investigation and the highly specialized field of cryptocurrency investigation, I am very proud to have been chosen as an expert speaker at the National Association of Divorce Professionals (NADP) annual conference.  I am encouraged to see that an organization such as the NADP recognizes the growing importance of cryptocurrencies and their potential impact in divorce litigation. 

As Bitcoin (and others) have increased in value from virtually worthless a decade ago to well over $3.5K(USD) per Bitcoin today, they have also achieved wide spread acceptance as a means of exchange and as investments.  Unfortunately, their potential for use as a vehicle to hide assets and make illicit transfers by parties in matrimonial litigation is a growing and very real concern.  While Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies may be ‘psuedo anonymous – there are proven methods to identify their existence and potentially track them.  This program, presented jointly with forensic accountant Mark DiMichael of Citrin Cooperman, will provide a basic understanding of how Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies operate, discuss their potential impact on a matrimonial litigation, and provide strategies to address these risks when conducting financial discovery.      

The NADP conference is for ALL professionals that work with their clients going through the complex process of divorce.  This conference will educate and enlighten professionals in the legal, financial, mental health and real estate fields about divorce and how they can help their clients have a better experience in the process.  For more information on the conference please click here: www.thenadp.com

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Cryptocurrency CLE at the Brooklyn Bar receives local media attention

On Tuesday, March 13 Nicholas Himonidis participated in a ground breaking cryptocurrency CLE program at the Brooklyn Bar Association entitled: “Cryptocurrency, the Law and How to Find it and Track it in a Divorce Litigation,” with forensic accountant Mark DiMichael and attorney James Anthony Wolff. The program, focusing on Bitcoin and other rapidly developing cryptocurrencies, was well attended and received local media attention in the form of a feature article in the Brooklyn Daily Eagle.

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Nick Himonidis to give CLE on Bitcoin & Cryptocurrency Investigation at the Brooklyn Bar Association

In the past few years cryptocurrency and token popularity has grown exponentially. While initially under the control of tech enthusiasts and outlaws, they have quickly become mainstream investments. The complexities and pseudo-anonymity of cryptocurrency makes it a difficult asset to understand and track.

On March 13, 2018, the Brooklyn Bar Association hosted a program entitled “Cryptocurrency, the Law, and How to Find It / Track It in a Divorce Litigation”. Nick Himonidis of The NGH Group was one of the featured speakers, discussing how to investigate bitcoin and other cryptocurrency transactions.

This presentation helped attendees understand cryptocurrencies, its legal implications, and how to address it in divorce litigation context.

 

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Nick Himonidis is featured speaker at American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers Fall CLE Program “CRIMES & MISDEMEANORS”

Nick Himonidis was the featured speaker at American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers Fall 2017 CLE Program “Crimes & Misdemeanors” – presenting a CLE program entitled “Spousal espionage – Drawing the line between legitimate, lawful self-help in gathering digital evidence and unlawful / criminal conduct.”

Program summary

The collection and use of digital evidence (ESI) has become a key component in all forms of modern litigation – including matrimonial and custody litigation. Email, text messages, social media and other forms of ESI can be critically important with respect to the location and value of marital assets, claims of marital waste, and custody issues. There is clearly an emerging trend of clients who insist on engaging in ‘self-help’ to collect what they perceive to be important digital evidence – outside the scope of formal discovery (perhaps before the case is even commenced). Some of this conduct may be lawful, and may result in valuable and potentially admissible evidence, but some of it is clearly unlawful and may violate multiple New York state and federal criminal statutes, and if so, other statues may render such evidence inadmissible.

This program will cover the legal (and ethical) boundaries between lawful collection of ESI on the one hand, and the unlawful methods of doing so, which appear to be have become an all too common reality.