Sprinter CJ Ujah Charged in UK Crypto Seed-Phrase Fraud

British sprinter CJ Ujah has been charged with conspiracy to defraud in a UK investigation into a phone-based cryptocurrency scam. He is listed among 10 suspects accused of posing as police officers and representatives of crypto companies to obtain wallet seed phrases; one victim is reported to have lost more than £300,000.

The Eastern Region Special Operations Unit carried out coordinated raids across Kent, Essex and London. Ujah, 32, was arrested and later released on bail pending a hearing at Chelmsford Crown Court on May 28.

Investigators say the alleged scheme used phone calls in which suspects impersonated officials, created a sense of urgency and applied pressure so victims would reveal seed phrases or give access to devices. Those details say the access was then used to transfer funds from private wallets.

The Regional Organised Crime Unit issued a warning to the public: “Genuine police and crypto firms never request seed phrases by phone. They also never demand device access or urgent transfers.”

One of the other suspects, fellow British sprinter Brandon Mingeli, 25, has been remanded in custody. British Athletics has not issued a public comment. All defendants are presumed innocent under UK law while legal proceedings continue.

Ujah’s arrest comes more than four years after a 22-month ban that affected his athletics career following a positive test at the time of Tokyo 2020. The Athletics Integrity Unit said the result was linked to a contaminated beta-alanine supplement bought during the Covid-19 lockdown; Ujah was later cleared of intentional doping. He returned to competition and reached the 100 metres semi-finals at the 2024 European Championships in Rome, and he ran the opening leg for Great Britain’s 4×100 metres relay at the 2017 World Championships. Public records show he had not competed since April 2025 before the fraud investigation began.

Police and prosecutors have not released further details about the other suspects or the total alleged losses. The May 28 hearing at Chelmsford Crown Court will determine the next steps in the case.