I don't understand the aspect you translated the meaning of the phrase. But, I think once a transaction gets confirmed on the blockchain, and the ID is available for everyone to access the Government can trace the transaction through some FBI tools. If a fund is not moved they won't be a way for the Government to know that such a huge amount is been disseminated on different wallets such that it can be changed to fiat. I don't think any criminal will ever hodl bitcoin without changing it to fiat. That's what I meant by that.
they were not caught because of any ID on the transaction/blockchain.
they instead gave away their ID on an
exchange. .. and deposited coins into the
exchange. where the
exchange connected the two pieces of information and reported it as a suspicious customer. and the
exchange reported them for suspicious activity
so yea, if you are converting to fiat. that part is the fatal flaw which can identify you being linked to crypto.