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Two cryptocurrency promoters linked to the notorious Forcount Ponzi scheme admitted guilt to conspiracy to commit wire fraud on Monday in New York.
As stated by the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Nestor Nunez and Antonia Perez Hernandez acknowledged their participation in a scheme that deceived primarily Spanish-speaking investors out of approximately $8.4 million from 2017 to 2021.
Crypto Promoters Admit Guilt in Forcount Ponzi Scheme Case
Nunez, an actor, was apprehended in Spain in December of the previous year for impersonating the fictional Forcount CEO “Salvador Molina.”
In actuality, Brazilian Francisley Da Silva was the genuine architect of the cryptocurrency scheme and had compensated Nunez to conceal his illicit activities.
Da Silva and his associates allegedly misused victims’ funds for luxury items, residences, and vehicles.
Nestor Nunez and Antonia Perez Hernandez, promoters of the cryptocurrency Ponzi scheme known as Forcount, pled guilty today to conspiracy to commit wire fraud. If you believe you are a victim, contact our Victim/Witness unit at https://t.co/6y1v12Tfu4 or 866-874-8900. pic.twitter.com/4oS5V7fxoO
— US Attorney SDNY (@SDNYnews) July 22, 2024
According to a December 2022 announcement from the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), Forcount Trading Systems allegedly provided membership opportunities for its cryptocurrency trading and mining initiatives.
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Moreover, the fraudsters assured victims that such activities “would yield guaranteed daily returns” on their investments and would double “those investments within six months.”
“In truth, Forcount was not involved in cryptocurrency trading or mining, and the founder and promoters of the scheme were utilizing Victim funds to pay other Victims, to further promote the schemes, and to enrich themselves,” a June announcement from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York stated.
“With high-end apparel and vehicles, these individuals are alleged to have showcased a luxurious lifestyle to prospective investors, but instead of a profitable investment opportunity, the victims were stripped of their savings and left with nothing to show for it,” HSI Special Agent in Charge Ivan J. Arvelo remarked.
The U.S. Government Intensifies Action Against Crypto Fraud
In June, Juan Tacuri, a senior promoter of the scheme, also admitted guilt to conspiracy to commit wire fraud.
As per the press release, Tacuri and Forcount fraudsters traveled across the U.S. and presented their scheme to potential victims at “lavish expos” and “small community presentations.”
“During larger events, Tacuri would showcase Forcount’s investment products and compensation plan, urging Victims to invest as a pathway to financial freedom, and flaunting the income he was generating, including by wearing designer attire to such events,” the press release elaborated. “The atmosphere of these events was celebratory and crafted to generate enthusiasm about the schemes.”
U.S. prosecutors have intensified their efforts against cryptocurrency fraudsters in recent months, particularly in the case and recent conviction of FTX founder Sam Bankman-Fried.
At the time of this publication, it remains uncertain how long the prison sentences for Nunez and Perez Hernandez may be.
The post Two Crypto Promoters Plead Guilty To Forcount Ponzi Scheme Wire Fraud Conspiracy appeared first on Cryptonews.
