A politically connected blockchain project that partnered with the Trump family’s crypto firm promoted a proposed resort in Timor-Leste involving three people later sanctioned by the United States for ties to the Prince Group, an alleged Southeast Asian scam syndicate, according to an OCCRP investigation published Monday. 

The AB network, a little-known blockchain ecosystem that last year partnered with World Liberty Financial, had touted the Timor-Leste development as a “flagship project” before later removing references to it, OCCRP reported. The outlet said the project involved three people who were subsequently sanctioned by the U.S. Treasury, though none has been charged with a crime and there is no evidence AB was directly connected to the Prince Group or that illicit funds flowed into the resort. 

According to OCCRP, the sanctioned figures were removed from the project shortly after the sanctions were announced. AB said in a March 4 statement that the resort plan, based on a June memorandum of understanding, was canceled in November before reaching a substantive implementation stage and had no legal or financial consequences. 

The findings come as concerns grow that Timor-Leste could become a new target for regional scam syndicates, the news organization said. The investigation also said there was no suggestion World Liberty or political figures tied to AB were aware of the sanctioned individuals’ prior involvement. 

Lawyers for World Liberty told OCCRP the company had conducted due diligence on AB and had no relationship with the sanctioned individuals or the Timor-Leste project. 

Read more at OCCRP