A notorious figure in the cryptocurrency world has received a prison sentence after being implicated in a significant cryptojacking operation that exploited cloud resources to mine digital currencies.
According to the Department of Justice, Charles O. Parks III, who referred to himself as “CP3O” online, deceived cloud providers into granting him greater access through fictitious business entities to mine crypto assets using these stolen resources.
Parks received a sentence of one year and one day in prison, along with the forfeiture of $500,000 and a luxury vehicle, with restitution amounts yet to be finalized.
Insights into the Operation
Authorities reported that Parks masqueraded as businesses like “MultiMillionaire LLC” and “CP3O LLC” in order to persuade cloud computing services to provide larger chunks of CPU power.
From January to August 2021, it’s estimated that his actions resulted in the mining of nearly $1 million worth of Ethereum, Litecoin, and Monero.
The DOJ revealed that Parks attempted to launder the criminal proceeds through various platforms, including exchanges, NFT markets, and banks, with portions of the funds being allocated to luxury purchases such as a Mercedes-Benz, high-end jewelry, and first-class travel experiences.
The indictment from the US Attorney’s Office has brought to light the extensive illegal activities of Charles O. Parks III a.k.a. “CP3O”.
He is accused of defrauding cloud service providers out of over $3.5 million in computing resources. The illicit mining netted approximately $1 million in cryptocurrency.pic.twitter.com/geXt5BKax6
— jerbz (@JerbztheGreat) April 16, 2024
Parks pleaded guilty to wire fraud back in December, effectively sidestepping more severe penalties that could have led to longer incarceration.
An indictment released in April 2024 also implicated several accounts linked to a subsidiary of a major Seattle cloud computing enterprise and a renowned tech firm based in Redmond.
Authorities indicated that the total value of the compromised computing resources exceeded $3.5 million.
Looking at the Bigger Picture of Crypto Fraud
This case coincides with alarming statistics showing substantial user losses from various scams. Recently, blockchain analysts flagged a phishing incident resulting in a $3 million loss of USDT, while security firms revealed that approximately $2.50 billion was lost to hacks, scams, and security breaches in the first half of 2025.
Wallet breaches accounted for almost $2 billion across 34 separate cases, while phishing efforts totaled over $400 million, with 132 recorded incidents posing significant threats to the digital asset landscape.
Key findings from the Q2 + H1 2025 Hack3d Report are available now.
$2.47 billion lost during the year’s first half.
$801 million in Q2 alone.
Phishing and wallet breaches primarily shaped the threat landscape.Review the full data here
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— CertiK (@CertiK) June 30, 2025
Why Cloud Providers Were Prone to Attack
Cloud service providers offer substantial amounts of CPU and GPU time, creating a lucrative opportunity for those who can gain unauthorized access. Attackers can effectively run extensive mining operations while cloud bills increase unchecked.
This case highlights how easily access to technology can be misused for personal gain due to insufficient oversight and vetting procedures.
Parks’ sentencing included the forfeiture of $500,000 and his vehicle, with final restitution calculations to be determined later. Regulatory officials, including Jessica S. Tisch of the NYPD, emphasized that this case underscores the tangible impacts of technological fraud and illicit mining activities.
Image courtesy of The Boar; chart source: TradingView
