- NFT developer Berman Jerry Nowlin, 21, died by apparent suicide while awaiting sentencing for $400,000 fraud case.
- Federal jury found Nowlin guilty of wire fraud and money laundering in November 2024.
- Scheme involved three Solana NFT collections: “Undead Apes,” “Undead Lady Apes,” and “Undead Tombstone.”
- Co-defendant Devin Alan Rhoden, 25, pleaded guilty to conspiracy charges in May 2024.
- Evidence showed Nowlin used crypto mixers and chain-hopping for money laundering operations.
NFT Developer Dies Amid $400,000 Fraud Case
A 21-year-old NFT developer died by apparent suicide while awaiting sentencing in a major cryptocurrency fraud case, according to the Tampa Bay Times. Berman Jerry Nowlin faced up to five years in federal prison after a jury convicted him of wire fraud and money laundering in connection with a $400,000 NFT scheme.
Anatomy of the NFT Fraud
The fraud centered on three Solana-based NFT collections launched in 2022:
- “Undead Apes”
- “Undead Lady Apes”
- “Undead Tombstone” (cancelled)
According to the Department of Justice, Nowlin and co-defendant Devin Alan Rhoden, 25, made false claims about business partnerships and holder benefits to attract investors. The scheme culminated in a classic "rug pull" – a crypto scam where developers abandon a project after collecting investor funds.
Money Trail and Legal Proceedings
Federal investigators traced fraudulent proceeds through:
- Chain-hopping: Converting cryptocurrencies across different blockchains to obscure transaction history
- Crypto mixers: Services that pool and redistribute cryptocurrency to break the connection between sender and receiver
While Rhoden pleaded guilty to conspiracy charges in May 2024, Nowlin maintained his innocence. His attorney, J. Jervis Wise, told the Tampa Bay Times, "Nowlin didn’t have any knowledge of what Rhoden was doing." However, prosecutors successfully demonstrated Nowlin’s direct involvement through financial records linking the laundered funds to his bank account.
Nowlin’s family contends he was manipulated by Rhoden. His brother, Daniel Barker, stated, "My brother was just a young, naïve kid that kind of got taken advantage of." Nowlin died at his Alabama residence on December 21, 2024, before his scheduled January sentencing.
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