It was the kind of thing that felt like a movie until the handcuffs clicked. If you spent any time in the maker-sphere or the Michigan tech scene in the 2010s, you knew Chris Boden. He was the high-energy, wild-haired "Captain" of The Geek Group (later the National Science Institute). He built massive Tesla coils. He taught kids how to use lathes. Then, one morning in December 2018, Homeland Security and the IRS showed up at his 43,000-square-foot facility in Grand Rapids.
People were stunned. Honestly, the rumor mill went into overdrive. Was it taxes? Was it some weird invention gone wrong?
It took years for the full picture to emerge, but the reality was much more "Breaking Bad" meets "Silicon Valley" than anyone expected. The story of chris boden federal prison time isn't just about a guy who got in over his head; it’s a cautionary tale about the intersection of crypto-anarchy and federal law.
The Secret Crypto Exchange at the Science Lab
For years, The Geek Group was a beacon for STEM education. It was a 501(c)(3) non-profit. But behind the scenes, Boden and a couple of associates—Daniel DeJager and Leesa Vogt—were running a massive, unlicensed Bitcoin exchange.
Between March 2017 and December 2018, they sold more than $740,000 in Bitcoin.
Here’s where it gets messy. They weren’t just selling to hobbyists. Boden explicitly marketed his services to people who wanted "clean" Bitcoin—crypto that couldn't be traced back to their actual activities. Federal prosecutors later revealed that Boden’s customer base included drug dealers. He even boasted that he didn't collect "Know Your Customer" (KYC) info, which is a big, flashing red light for federal investigators.
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Why the Feds Actually Stepped In
It wasn't just the trading. It was the structuring.
Boden and his team were taking the cash proceeds from these Bitcoin sales and depositing them into bank accounts in amounts just under $10,000. They did this specifically to avoid triggering the Currency Transaction Reports (CTRs) that banks are required to file. To the Feds, that’s a classic money laundering red flag.
Then there was the undercover agent.
During the investigation, Boden allegedly met with someone he thought was a cocaine dealer. He reportedly told the guy that drug dealers were his "exact favorite kind of client." If that wasn't enough to sink a case, he also solicited the agent to help collect a $500,000 Bitcoin debt, suggesting he didn't care if the debtor was "f***ed up" as long as he got his money.
The Sentence and the Fallout
By October 2021, the game was up. Boden pleaded guilty to:
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- Operating an unlicensed money transmitting business.
- Money laundering.
- Structuring deposits to evade financial reporting.
In February 2022, Chief U.S. District Judge Robert Jonker handed down the sentence. Chris Boden federal prison time was set at 30 months. He was also ordered to pay $75,000 and forfeit a chunk of Bitcoin. His associates received lighter sentences—DeJager got 10 months, and Vogt got probation (though she was eventually ordered to pay over $60,000).
Boden’s defense? He called it an "anarchy streak." He told the court he was drawn to the idea of deposing government-controlled currency.
It’s a sentiment many early crypto adopters shared, but the DOJ didn't see it as a philosophical stance. They saw it as criminal enterprise.
Life After 30 Months
So, where is he now?
Boden served his time and was eventually released. According to recent records and his own social media presence, he served about 2 years and 15 days of that 30-month sentence before moving to supervised release.
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He hasn't exactly disappeared into the shadows. If you look at his YouTube presence in 2026, he’s back to what he does best: making things. He’s been posting "Captain’s Blogs," showing off shop projects, tube amps, and "Building The Clubhouse." He seems to have traded the high-stakes crypto-laundering for the more grounded world of engineering and community building.
But The Geek Group—the physical place—is gone. The building was sold, the equipment was auctioned off, and a piece of Michigan tech history was essentially liquidated to pay for the fallout of the Bitcoin scheme.
What You Can Learn From the Boden Case
If you’re in the tech or crypto space, this story isn't just "true crime." It’s a blueprint for what not to do.
- KYC is not optional. If you are moving significant amounts of money for other people, the "anarchy" defense will not save you from a federal indictment.
- Structuring is a trap. Many people think they’re being "smart" by depositing $9,000 instead of $11,000. In reality, that specific intent to evade a report is a crime in itself, often easier to prove than the underlying fraud.
- Non-profits aren't shields. Using a 501(c)(3) to mask a commercial enterprise is a one-way ticket to an IRS audit that you will lose.
Boden’s story is a weird mix of genuine passion for science and a total disregard for the "boring" rules of finance. He was a brilliant communicator who built something amazing, then burned it down for a crypto side-hustle.
If you're curious about the current state of his projects, his YouTube channel "Physicsduck" is the most direct way to see how he's rebuilding his life post-prison. Just don't expect him to give you any advice on how to trade Bitcoin.
Check the official DOJ press releases if you want to see the original charging documents; they're a wild read and show exactly how much the Feds knew before they even knocked on the door.
Next Steps for You:
- Audit your crypto practices: If you run a small business, ensure you aren't inadvertently acting as a "money transmitter" under FinCEN guidelines.
- Research "Structuring" laws: Understand why the $10,000 limit exists and why trying to "game" it is a felony.
- Support legitimate STEM: Look into local maker spaces that have filled the void left by The Geek Group's closure.