US DOJ Extradites Alleged Co-Founder of Ponzi Scheme AirBit Club

cheezcarls

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Quote from: TravelMug on December 02, 2020, 07:51:22 PM

Acting Manhattan U.S. Attorney Announces Extradition Of Co-Founder Of Global Cryptocurrency Ponzi Scheme

Quote

Audrey Strauss, Acting United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, and Peter C. Fitzhugh, Special Agent-in-Charge of the New York Field Office of Homeland Security Investigations (“HSI”), announced that GUTEMBERG DOS SANTOS, a citizen of Brazil and the United States, was extradited from Panama on November 25. DOS SANTOS is charged by indictment with co-defendants Pablo Renato Rodriguez, Scott Hughes, Cecilia Millan, Karina Chairez, and Jackie Aguilar for their roles in an internationally coordinated fraud and money laundering ring involved in defrauding individuals through investments in AirBit Club, a purported cryptocurrency mining and trading company. DOS SANTOS was arrested on August 18, 2020, in Panama City, Panama, and will be presented later today before U.S. Magistrate Judge Katharine H. Parker. Rodriguez, Hughes, Millan, and Aguilar were arrested in the United States on August 18, 2020, and Chairez was arrested in the United States on October 20, 2020. The case has been assigned to U.S. District Judge George B. Daniels.

Acting United States Attorney Audrey Strauss said: “As alleged, Gutemberg Dos Santos played a key role in an international investment scam that promised extraordinary rates of return on phantom investments in cryptocurrencies, defrauding victims of tens of millions of dollars. Thanks to HSI, Dos Santos is now in U.S. custody.”

https://www.justice.gov/usao-sdny/pr/acting-manhattan-us-attorney-announces-extradition-co-founder-global-cryptocurrency

So the following are charge with one count each of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, conspiracy to commit bank fraud and conspiracy to commit money laundering. Good news for those who have been defrauded by this group, but I don't think they will get their money back, at least justice could be serve again.

Oh well, lesson learned for those who have invested in the AirBit Club. In the Philippines, lots of Filipinos (including here in my city) have invested and recruited a lot in AirBit. I was invited a few times by some of them, but I keep rejected it because I know its a ponzi scheme and I am not a fan when it comes to network marketing using crypto as front as 99.99% of them are scams. They are just using Bitcoin as front and never promoted the real use case of it, but only the scam opportunity such as ridiculous packages, compensation plans, etc.

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It can be said that the United States is good at applying justice in such matters, although they do not have laws to legislate or regulate such matters regarding cryptocurrencies, there must be laws to protect investors in such cases, but unfortunately there is a persistence in ignoring the legislation of cryptocurrencies in the country. So I think that these poor people will not be able to get their money back.

btc_angela

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Quote from: Lorence.xD on December 03, 2020, 04:06:15 AM

Quote from: btc_angela on December 03, 2020, 02:33:24 AM

Well what do you expect, that's the long arm of the US DOJ, but as per report he is also a US citizen so no doubt that he will be extradited to the US to face the charge.

Just check what will be the sentence for money laundering offence, and it says up to 20 years in prison. So he could be looking at long years behind bar if found guilty.

Funny how they are chasing after this ponzi schemes when Herbalife and other prominent politician acquainted MLMs are still operating in the United States. You know that they will only attack those that do not bend to their will to kiss their bureaucratic ass. If only AirBit Club lobbied with this greedy cronies, they wouldn't have a problem with this.

I don't know how you come up with those reasoning though, US have been fair I would say, as they have been really applying the rule of law against those who violated it, and recently, crypto scammers have been targeted by the US and then some cyber actors within US or outside or illicit drugs that uses bitcoin and other crypto. So they are are really pursuing any entity that they have evidences of committing crimes within their jurisdiction.

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Quote from: Lorence.xD on December 03, 2020, 04:06:15 AM

Quote from: btc_angela on December 03, 2020, 02:33:24 AM

Well what do you expect, that's the long arm of the US DOJ, but as per report he is also a US citizen so no doubt that he will be extradited to the US to face the charge.

Just check what will be the sentence for money laundering offence, and it says up to 20 years in prison. So he could be looking at long years behind bar if found guilty.

Funny how they are chasing after this ponzi schemes when Herbalife and other prominent politician acquainted MLMs are still operating in the United States. You know that they will only attack those that do not bend to their will to kiss their bureaucratic ass. If only AirBit Club lobbied with this greedy cronies, they wouldn't have a problem with this.

I don't think we can compare them though, maybe US DOJ is hell bent on bring crypto criminals to justice right now as there are really doing a lot of witch hunting, even prosecute foreign individuals in absentia.

And it just so happened that the Airbit includes a US citizen so obviously, they will do everything in their power to bring him home and face the music. As far as Herbalife, they've been fined $200 million in settlement but I'm not sure if the people behind was put behind bars.

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Quote from: Lorence.xD on December 03, 2020, 04:06:15 AM

Quote from: btc_angela on December 03, 2020, 02:33:24 AM

Well what do you expect, that's the long arm of the US DOJ, but as per report he is also a US citizen so no doubt that he will be extradited to the US to face the charge.

Just check what will be the sentence for money laundering offence, and it says up to 20 years in prison. So he could be looking at long years behind bar if found guilty.

Funny how they are chasing after this ponzi schemes when Herbalife and other prominent politician acquainted MLMs are still operating in the United States. You know that they will only attack those that do not bend to their will to kiss their bureaucratic ass. If only AirBit Club lobbied with this greedy cronies, they wouldn't have a problem with this.

I tend to agree, but the news shows how far the US government can extend their arms with regards to implementing their law and bringing justice to everyone. It isn't new that these people behind such Ponzi Scheme can hide easily but if only the authorities of all the government around the globe will take it seriously then no one will be scammed.

And for whatever reason Gutenberg Dos Santos including his colleagues being extradited and will be facing the court now it is rightful to say that the US has never stopped nor neglected its responsibility to serve impartiality to everyone whether they came from a different land yet within their jurisdiction.

Lorence.xD

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Quote from: btc_angela on December 03, 2020, 02:33:24 AM

Well what do you expect, that's the long arm of the US DOJ, but as per report he is also a US citizen so no doubt that he will be extradited to the US to face the charge.

Just check what will be the sentence for money laundering offence, and it says up to 20 years in prison. So he could be looking at long years behind bar if found guilty.

Funny how they are chasing after this ponzi schemes when Herbalife and other prominent politician acquainted MLMs are still operating in the United States. You know that they will only attack those that do not bend to their will to kiss their bureaucratic ass. If only AirBit Club lobbied with this greedy cronies, they wouldn't have a problem with this.

btc_angela

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Well what do you expect, that's the long arm of the US DOJ, but as per report he is also a US citizen so no doubt that he will be extradited to the US to face the charge.

Just check what will be the sentence for money laundering offence, and it says up to 20 years in prison. So he could be looking at long years behind bar if found guilty.

TravelMug

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Acting Manhattan U.S. Attorney Announces Extradition Of Co-Founder Of Global Cryptocurrency Ponzi Scheme

Quote

Audrey Strauss, Acting United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, and Peter C. Fitzhugh, Special Agent-in-Charge of the New York Field Office of Homeland Security Investigations (“HSI”), announced that GUTEMBERG DOS SANTOS, a citizen of Brazil and the United States, was extradited from Panama on November 25. DOS SANTOS is charged by indictment with co-defendants Pablo Renato Rodriguez, Scott Hughes, Cecilia Millan, Karina Chairez, and Jackie Aguilar for their roles in an internationally coordinated fraud and money laundering ring involved in defrauding individuals through investments in AirBit Club, a purported cryptocurrency mining and trading company. DOS SANTOS was arrested on August 18, 2020, in Panama City, Panama, and will be presented later today before U.S. Magistrate Judge Katharine H. Parker. Rodriguez, Hughes, Millan, and Aguilar were arrested in the United States on August 18, 2020, and Chairez was arrested in the United States on October 20, 2020. The case has been assigned to U.S. District Judge George B. Daniels.

Acting United States Attorney Audrey Strauss said: “As alleged, Gutemberg Dos Santos played a key role in an international investment scam that promised extraordinary rates of return on phantom investments in cryptocurrencies, defrauding victims of tens of millions of dollars. Thanks to HSI, Dos Santos is now in U.S. custody.”

https://www.justice.gov/usao-sdny/pr/acting-manhattan-us-attorney-announces-extradition-co-founder-global-cryptocurrency

So the following are charge with one count each of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, conspiracy to commit bank fraud and conspiracy to commit money laundering. Good news for those who have been defrauded by this group, but I don't think they will get their money back, at least justice could be serve again.

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