Jina Choi Faces Criminal Referral Over Alleged False Statements in $170 Million IRL Fraud Case
Updated
Updated · Fox News · Oct 1
Jina Choi Faces Criminal Referral Over Alleged False Statements in $170 Million IRL Fraud Case
1 articles · Updated · Fox News · Oct 1
Summary
A criminal referral sent Tuesday asks the Justice Department to investigate whether former federal prosecutor Jina Choi falsely told FBI agents in July that she had no role in the IRL investigation.
The referral centers on whether Choi stayed involved after joining the U.S. Attorney’s Office in late 2023, despite prosecutors saying she was screened off because she had previously represented IRL.
Shafi’s lawyer says internal emails, FBI interview notes and a case tracker contradict Choi’s account, including a message about adding a prosecutor to the IRL team to help “move it along.”
The dispute matters because Abraham Shafi was indicted in 2025 on fraud and obstruction charges tied to claims he misled investors while raising about $170 million for IRL, whose board found 95% of users were likely bots.
No court has found a conflict requiring dismissal, Choi has not been charged or disciplined, and the Justice Department is not required to act on the referral.