Vladimir Kats

The founder of Liberty Reserve has been sentenced to 20 years in prison for using his Costa Rica-based virtual currency business to help cyber criminals launder money, the U.S. Department of Justice reported.

Arthur Budovsky, 42, the founder of the Costa Rica-based cyber-currency operation Liberty Reserve, pleaded guilty to one charge of conspiring to run a money laundering operation, the U.S. Department of Justice announced last Friday. He faces up to 20 years in prison.

The FBI asked the Costa Rican woman who married the online currency company's founder, Arthur Budovsky, to testify in a money laundering trial in the U.S.

Costa Rican authorities raided suspect´s home and offices in San José and Heredia.