Crypto scammer hit with 20-year prison sentence for role in fraud

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Juan Tacuri has been sentenced to a maximum of 240 months for his role in the Forcount Ponzi scheme.

Tacuri was a senior promoter in the Forcount Ponzi scheme that defrauded thousands of investors, primarily in Spanish-speaking communities, according to court documents. The U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York, under Judge Analisa Torres, delivered the maximum sentence for his role in the crypto-based fraud. 

Tacuri, 46, was ordered to pay over $3.6 million in restitution and forfeit a home in Florida that was purchased with stolen funds.

Crypto fraud details

Forcount, later known as Weltsys, falsely claimed to engage in crypto mining and trading. Tacuri and other promoters told investors they could guarantee daily returns and double their investments within six months. 

However, the company was not involved in any legitimate crypto activities. Instead, Forcount operated as a classic Ponzi scheme, using new investments to pay off earlier participants while its promoters enriched themselves.

Victims were primarily working-class, Spanish-speaking individuals. Tacuri traveled across the United States, hosting events to attract more investors. These expos, ranging from small community gatherings to larger-scale events, featured Tacuri boasting about his financial success and promoting Forcount’s products.

Investors were led to believe they would achieve financial freedom through these investments.

Despite mounting complaints as early as 2018, when investors discovered they could not withdraw funds, Tacuri and other promoters continued to push the scheme.

‘Mindexcoin’

To address liquidity issues, the scheme introduced proprietary tokens called “Mindexcoin,” claiming they would hold value. These tokens ultimately became worthless, leading to further losses.

Tacuri’s sentence, which includes one year of supervised release, follows impact statements from more than 20 victims during the sentencing. 

U.S. Attorney Damian Williams emphasized that Tacuri’s actions were a clear case of fraud disguised as cutting-edge crypto investing. “Fraud does not pay,” Williams stated.