Canadian Crypto Fugitive Seeks U.S. Presidential Pardon Amid Criminal Indictment, U.S. Lobbying Firm Reports
A lobbying firm based in Washington, D.C. has revealed that it is actively pursuing a presidential pardon for Canadian cryptocurrency figure Andean Medjedovic, who has been indicted in the United States on serious criminal allegations. This development is documented in filings submitted to the U.S. Department of Justice.
Background on Andean Medjedovic’s Legal Troubles
Andean Medjedovic, a 23-year-old native of Hamilton, Ontario, has been a fugitive since 2021 following the issuance of a bench warrant for his arrest by an Ontario Superior Court judge. He faces allegations in multiple jurisdictions, including the United States and the Netherlands, related to the exploitation of cryptocurrency trading platforms to the tune of approximately $65 million US.
In the U.S. indictment, Medjedovic is accused of borrowing hundreds of millions of dollars in cryptocurrency and engaging in what federal prosecutors describe as "deceptive trading" practices. According to authorities, these activities manipulated computerized cryptocurrency platforms into "falsely calculating key variables," which allegedly allowed Medjedovic to withdraw millions of dollars in investor funds unlawfully.
Parallel to the criminal cases, a civil lawsuit was launched against him in Ontario in 2021 by one of the alleged victims. The presiding judge in that civil matter also issued an arrest warrant after Medjedovic failed to respond to proceedings.
Lobbying Efforts for Presidential Pardon
Documents filed on February 20 under the Foreign Agents Registration Act confirm that JM Burkman & Associates—a lobbying firm in Washington, D.C.—has been retained on a $300,000 US retainer to advocate on behalf of Medjedovic. The firm explicitly stated its intent to engage with U.S. government officials "for the purpose of achieving a presidential pardon" for Medjedovic in his criminal case.
Jacob Wohl, a partner at JM Burkman & Associates, spoke to CBC’s The Fifth Estate, describing Medjedovic as a "very brilliant young man" who is "admirable in a lot of ways." Wohl disputes the characterization of Medjedovic’s alleged activities as criminal exploits. He argued that the trades were standard permissible transactions within the boundaries set by the cryptocurrency platforms, rejecting the government’s use of the term "exploit."
"Code Is Law" Defense and Legal Debate
JM Burkman’s filings reflect a defense closely aligned with the "code is law" philosophy within cryptocurrency circles. This principle holds that the computer code of a program defines its rules, and any activity conforming to those coded rules should be considered legitimate—even if it might conflict with traditional legal interpretations.
Medjedovic himself has previously indicated support for this argument in online discussions, positing that sophisticated transactions exploiting platform rules represent a feature of the software rather than wrongdoing by the user.
However, critics challenge this view. Benjamin Bathgate, a Toronto-based lawyer representing an alleged victim in the ongoing Ontario civil suit, labels Medjedovic’s actions as market manipulation. Bathgate warned of the dangerous precedent such activities would set if left unchecked: "If the crypto trading market operated this way, it would be the Wild West, with no investor being safe from being the next target."
Moreover, Bathgate pointed to evidence from the U.S. indictment highlighting Medjedovic’s own messaging, where he reportedly referred to his exploits with terms like "steal crypto, lol" and called some planned transactions "fake" and a "glitch," contradicting the claim that the actions were legitimate trades.
Additional Context and Controversy Surrounding Lobbyists
JM Burkman & Associates disclosed that the retainer fee paid by Medjedovic could be wired or paid via cryptocurrency. Jacob Wohl claimed that Medjedovic’s payments to the firm do not stem from illicit sources, citing other legitimate business ventures.
Wohl himself has a controversial background: he has pleaded guilty to telecommunications fraud in Ohio, was involved in securities fraud cases, and in 2025 entered no contest pleas on multiple felony election law charges in Michigan. The National Futures Association banned him from the industry in 2017. Wohl attributes these issues to political "lawfare" between parties in the United States, maintaining that he has not committed crimes.
Next Steps and Political Outreach
According to Wohl, the lobbying firm has begun approaching members of the U.S. Congress to raise awareness of Medjedovic’s situation, hoping either to have the federal Justice Department drop the charges or pursue a presidential pardon. "At the end of the day there’s only one person that can grant the pardon and there’s one person that makes those decisions. That’s the president," Wohl emphasized.
International Dimensions
Medjedovic’s fugitive status is compounded by international dimensions, including criminal charges filed in the Netherlands. In 2024, he was detained in Belgrade, Serbia, for more than 100 days before vanishing once again. Authorities reportedly linked him to the use of fake passports and issued an Interpol Red Notice.
About Andean Medjedovic
- Age: 23
- Origin: Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
- Charges: Alleged exploitation of cryptocurrency trading platforms to steal $65 million US (U.S. and Netherlands), civil suit in Ontario
- Current Status: Fugitive
This ongoing case highlights emerging challenges at the intersection of technology, law, and international enforcement regarding cryptocurrency activities. The use of lobbying to seek a presidential pardon adds an unusual political dimension to a complex transnational legal saga.
CBC News will continue to follow updates on this developing story.