Promoters of Forcount Ponzi Scheme Admit Guilt in $8.4 Million Crypto Fraud

Highlights:

• Antonia Perez Hernandez and Nestor Nunez admitted to wire fraud, stealing $8.4 million from investors.
• Juan Tacuri forfeited $4 million and properties bought with victims’ funds, with sentencing set for September 24.
• The fraudulent activities spanned from 2017 to 2021, targeting mostly Spanish-speaking communities.

Two individuals associated with the Forcount cryptocurrency Ponzi scheme have pleaded guilty to wire fraud conspiracy charges. The hearing, held on July 22 at the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York, saw Antonia Perez Hernandez and Nestor Nunez admitting to their roles in the scam that defrauded investors of $8.4 million between 2017 and 2021.

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

Guilty Pleas and Sentencing

Hernandez and Nunez were among the five defendants charged in 2022 for their involvement in the Forcount scheme. The fraudulent operation targeted Spanish-speaking investors, promising substantial returns from crypto trading and mining activities. However, these promises proved baseless, and they siphoned off the funds for personal gain.

Juan Tacuri, another promoter in the case, had previously pleaded guilty and agreed to forfeit approximately $4 million and properties purchased with the victims’ funds. Judge Analisa Torres is scheduled to sentence him on September 24. Authorities have not yet set sentencing dates for Nunez and Hernandez. Francisley Da Silva and Ramon Perez, the other defendants in the case, are still awaiting their trials.

Today @SDNYLIVE JUAN TACURI, a senior promoter in the cryptocurrency Ponzi scheme known as Forcount (later Weltsys), pled guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud before Judge Analisa Torres.  The Forcount scheme principally targeted Spanish-speaking populations pic.twitter.com/fhnlEa98w7

— Inner City Press (@innercitypress) June 5, 2024

Background of the Scheme

The Forcount Ponzi scheme, primarily led by Brazilian citizen Francisley Da Silva, used a network of promoters to lure investors. The scheme operated under the guise of profitable crypto trading and mining ventures but was a façade for misappropriating funds. Nestor Nunez, using the alias “Salvador Molina,” posed as the CEO of Forcount, further deceiving investors.

The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) charged Da Silva and his accomplices, including Tacuri, Perez, and Jose Ramiro Coronado Reyes, with securities violations. Additionally, Da Silva and Fajardo faced criminal charges for their roles in the fraudulent activities.

Nunez was arrested in Spain on December 28, 2022, and the U.S. Department of Justice is seeking his extradition. Ramon Perez surrendered to authorities in Orlando, Florida, and faces accusations of laundering proceeds through shell companies and real estate. Perez faces charges of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and money laundering, with a maximum sentence of 60 years. Authorities have charged Nunez with conspiracy to commit wire fraud, and he faces up to 40 years in prison.

The case, led by U.S. Attorney Damian Williams, involved collaboration with several agencies, including HSI New York, HSI Madrid, the New York City Police Department, the Florida Department of Financial Services, and international bodies like the Brazilian Federal Police and the Spanish Guardia Civil. These organizations’ efforts were instrumental in uncovering and prosecuting the individuals behind the Forcount scheme.