Homeland Security Investigations agents took the 40-year-old executive into custody on July 30 following a federal complaint filed in San Diego. Kleiman, a Mexican citizen and legal U.S. resident, previously operated the currency exchange service under the name MXN Financial LLC before rebranding as Moneyflip LLC. Investigators originally targeted him for allegedly bypassing Bank Secrecy Act reporting requirements through cross-border transactions.
The operation escalated after undercover agents approached Kleiman in February, claiming to represent drug traffickers. Prosecutors allege that Kleiman laundered $750,000 into cryptocurrency for the agents, charging a 10% fee. During these interactions, Kleiman reportedly pivoted from financial services to violence, requesting the kidnapping and murder of a businessman who owed him money. To evade detection, he allegedly used a shared email account, communicating through unsent drafts rather than direct messages.
To secure the hit, Kleiman allegedly paid $10,000 in cash deposits. On July 28, agents presented him with staged photos and video evidence falsely depicting the businessman’s torture and death. Satisfied with the ruse, Kleiman allegedly finalized the transaction the following day by delivering $5,000 in cash and transferring 25,000 USDT to an undercover wallet. He now faces a single count of murder-for-hire, which carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in federal prison and a $250,000 fine.
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