Andrew M. “Drew” Hinkes is an attorney and recognized authority on legal issues related to the digital currency space. Mr. Hinkes is a co-founder and the general counsel of Athena Blockchain, a start up investment firm focused on compliant offering of tokenized investment products. He is also an adjunct professor, appointed by both the NYU Stern Business School and the NYU School of Law, where he co-teaches “Blockchains, Digital Currencies and the Future of the Financial Services Industry” to JD/MBA students. Mr. Hinkes is frequently quoted and cited in articles related to digital assets and blockchain technology, and he regularly speaks at legal, industry, and academic conferences. Previously, he was a partner at Berger Singerman LLP. He holds an A.B. degree in History from Washington University in St. Louis and a J.D. degree from the University of Miami.

Charles Evans, PhD, of Evans Economics, retired from teaching in May, 2018. He was associate professor of Finance and Economics at Barry University’s Andreas School of Business in Miami, Florida. Dr. Evans has been involved, commercially and academically, with virtual currencies since the first moneypunk wave during the 1990s Dot.Com era. His research focus is on virtual currency applications and the value of ephemeral goods. A native of Miami, Dr. Evans has lived in the New York City area, Metropolitan Washington DC, Los Angeles, Southern Germany, West Berlin, Anguilla (Eastern Caribbean), and the Bahamas. He speaks German fluently and enough Spanish to get by. Dr. Evans is a member of the national Association of Forensic Economists, the Financial Management Association and the Financial Education Association.

Rene Palomino Jr. worked as a criminal defense attorney for Essen & Essen P. A. immediately upon graduation from law school, until he established his own law firm in 1987. In 2008 he joined the Office of Regional Counsel where he defended indigent defendants charged with very serious crimes. Mr. Palomino joined the Hillsborough County Public Defenders in July 2017, where he presently works as an assistant public defender. During more than 34 years practicing law, he has handled over 3,200 cases in state court and approximately 200 cases in federal court. Throughout his career he has also been involved in civil litigation. He obtained multi-million dollar verdicts, including a jury verdict for $253 million against Fidel Castro and the Republic of Cuba. Mr. Palomino was admitted to The Florida bar in 1983, and he is a member of the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, the Florida Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, and the American Bar Association. He was born in Havana, Cuba in 1959 and arrived in Miami, Florida, in 1962, where he was raised. After obtaining a degree in Business Administration, with honors, in 1980 from the University of Miami, he enrolled at Nova Southeastern School of Law where he obtained his Juris Doctor degree in 1983.

Angelina Pluzhnyk is a consultant with Evans Economics. She has more than 15 years of accounting experience in several industries, including tourism, energy, insurance, and cryptocurrency. Ms. Pluzhnyk consults with clients on cryptocurrency accounting. She also teaches Accounting and Economics for Keiser University. Ms. Pluzhnyk is a member of the American Institute of Public Accountants and the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners. Originally from Yalta, Ukraine, she has lived in Ukraine, Russia, the USA, and the Bahamas. She is fluent in Russian and English. She earned MAcc (Accounting), MA (Economics) degrees.

Frank A. Prieto opened the Law Offices of Frank Andrew Prieto, P.A., in 2007 and has quickly become one of South Florida’s premiere criminal defense lawyers. He began his legal career as an assistant state attorney (2001-2004). During his years as a prosecutor, Mr. Prieto gained comprehensive experience in the litigation of complex criminal enterprises, including international narcotics-trafficking, organized crime, white collar fraud, racketeering (RICO), theft, property crimes, crimes of violence, DUI, and many others. After 2004, he took his prosecutorial experience and applied it toward maritime and admiralty defense work. In 2007, Mr. Prieto began his own private practice focused in the areas of narcotics trafficking, organized crime, white collar crimes, RICO, property crimes, and crimes of violence at both the federal and state levels. Additionally, he has vast experience in the areas of credit card fraud, securities fraud, burglaries, robberies, theft, and all traffic offenses including DUI. Mr. Prieto is a 2001 cum la