there is speculation spreading that they bought the bitcoin at a discount at the time, circumventing the trustlessness by taking the private keys (and hoping the seller doesn't use another copy to move the funds later). this would have been just a few million dollars in 2016.

inspirational in the direction of ideas on this case, and I know people that would trade a private key directly.

would help explain the amateurish laundering.

could be an interesting defense. could explain why they didn't run or do anything when their ISP notified them of the US government snooping back in November.