Cryptocurrency markets keep reinventing fraud and fraud mitigation one century at a time.

And the defence of "there was no communication between the two brothers and the traders" feels really weak as well. Of course there was a communication, they put a trade offer online, and it was accepted by a trader, albeit automatically.

The search terms for how to evade fraud is also not going to help them.

I wonder if their lawyer advised them not to take the plea deal, it doesn't sound like they have a high chance of getting away with it.