e-Bullion co-founder James Fayed has been charged in the July 28 death of his wife and e-Bullion co-founder Pamela Fayed.

The news was reported in the Ventura County Star on Monday afternoon. The felony complaint for arrest (see document) states that Fayed and Jose Luis Moya arranged the murder "for financial gain," but it is unclear who actually carried out the stabbing. The Star states that James Fayed allegedly paid $25,000 to Moya to arrange Pamela Fayed's death. The Fayeds were in the midst of a bitter divorce when the murder occured, and Pamela Fayed was allegedly planning to cooperate with a federal investigation into the Fayeds' gold-trading businesses.

Moya managed James Fayed's ranch in Moorpark, California, but was not an employee of e-Bullion. Moya is being held without bail in connection with the murder.

Fayed will be arranged on the murder charge on Tuesday, according to the Star report. He is currently awaiting trial on a separate charge of operating a money transmitting business without a license. His arrest on the federal charge, coupled with FBI and IRS raids on e-Bullion's offices and vaults, resulted in the digital gold currency site being taken offline in early August. Hundreds or thousands of e-Bullion customers have been unable to deposit, transfer, or withdraw funds from their e-Bullion accounts since then.

Background:

• Judge denies request to maintain e-Bullion's computer systems
• e-Bullion update: Fayed's lawyers say feds seized $24 million in assets
• Why use e-Bullion? An investor explains
• Court papers indicate James Fayed had absolute control over e-Bullion
• Fayed indictment doesn't mention e-Bullion
• No comment from federal prosecutor in e-Bullion case
• Daughter seeks control of mother's ownership interest in e-Bullion
• Not all e-Bullion customers are worried by outage
• e-Bullion still down for "routine maintenance"
• e-Bullion co-founder jailed on money transfer charge
• Report: Feds investigating e-Bullion in fraud inquiry
• Where are they now: Flooz