Richard Heart arrested in Istanbul: What are the charges?

HEX and PulseChain founder Richard Heart has reportedly been detained in Istanbul on October 14, 2026, during a joint Turkish police and intelligence operation, with authorities reportedly seizing $4 million in cash and 64 luxury watches from his residence. Summary Turkish media reported Richard Heart detained in Istanbul during a coordinated police and intelligence operation. Reports described seizures of $4 million in cash and 64 luxury watches from his residence. Finnish authorities sought Heart over suspected aggravated tax fraud, with separate assault allegations previously reported. The SEC’s 2023 lawsuit alleged unregistered offerings exceeding $1 billion and misappropriation of investor funds. A federal judge dismissed the SEC case in February 2025, and regulators declined further amendments. Turkish newspaper Sözcü reported that officers detained Richard Heart, whose legal name is Richard James Schueler, at a property in Istanbul’s Beşiktaş district. The operation reportedly involved Turkey’s National Intelligence Organization, known as MİT, and Istanbul police, following earlier efforts to locate him. The reported detention follows a Finnish investigation into suspected t...