A self-styled crypto influencer has been sentenced to one year and one day in prison after admitting to running a multimillion-dollar cryptojacking scheme that defrauded two of the world’s largest cloud computing providers.

The Department of Justice announced that Brooklyn federal court handed down the sentence to Charles O. Parks III, also known as “CP3O.” Parks created fake businesses, including “MultiMillionaire LLC” and “CP3O LLC,” to trick providers into giving him elevated access to computing resources. Prosecutors said he then used those resources to mine nearly $1 million worth of Ether, Litecoin, and Monero between January and August 2021, racking up more than $3.5 million in fraud.

Cryptojacking involves stealing computing power to secretly mine cryptocurrency. Parks had originally faced charges that carried a potential 50-year maximum sentence but pleaded guilty to wire fraud in December. Authorities said he laundered the illegally mined coins through crypto exchanges, NFT marketplaces, banks, and payment processors before converting them into cash. The money funded luxury purchases including a Mercedes-Benz, jewelry, and first-class travel.

The DOJ revealed Parks lied to providers, claiming he was building an online training company expected to serve 10,000 students. In reality, prosecutors said, there were no students or business operations—only crypto mining. When questioned about suspicious activity and unpaid bills, he dodged accountability.

Parks also tried to boost his online profile, portraying himself as a successful investor. He promoted a subscription-based “MultiMillionaire Mentality” coaching program, charging $10 a month, with premium consulting and payments in his own crypto token.

Authorities have ordered Parks to forfeit $500,000 and his luxury car, with restitution still to be determined. Prosecutors said his story serves as a warning: behind the image of success, he was “merely a fraudster whose secret to getting rich quick was lying and stealing.”